Credit unions donate €120k to flood victims

CREDIT UNIONS will donate more than €120,000 today to help families affected by flood damage.

Close to 90 credit unions across the country have contributed to a central fund established earlier this week to help those affected.

This is the first time a fund of this kind was established by the credit union movement, but in the future it plans to contribute to more community initiatives to help repair damage.

The Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU) will today present St Vincent De Paul and the Irish Red Cross with the cheque.

ILCU president Mark Bailey said: “As credit unions are at the heart of communities we are witnessing firsthand how the weather conditions experienced in the past week will have real and lasting damage on the families and the communities affected by the flood damage.”

Many credit unions have also established their own funds so that members can make donations.

Chief executive of the Irish League of Credit Unions Kieron Brennan said: “We are delighted St Vincent de Paul and the Red Cross will provide help with distributing the funds to those in need prior to Christmas. Credit Unions are about investing in communities. We hope others will follow our example.”