Trade Minister Billy Kelleher has met with businesses in Athlone to discuss issues on accessing bank credit.

This is the seventh of eight regional meetings Minister Kelleher has undertaken in the last number of days with the objective of examining the difficulties experienced by business in accessing credit.

Also in attendance will be representatives from state agencies such as Enterprise Ireland and the IDA, banking sector representatives and Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment officials.

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"The meetings so far have provided an opportunity for uncovering the actual situation on the ground, to understand the experiences by business in gaining access to credit which will in turn facilitate a real appreciation of the difficulties," said Mr Kelleher.

"The first hand knowledge gained will coincide with the work of the Credit Supply Clearing Group recently established by the Tánaiste, Mary Coughlan."

He added: "It is vital for the economy that banks lend to viable business so as to ensure growth and sustain jobs in Ireland.

"These meetings provide a mechanism for genuine engagement between key stakeholders to provide for a sincere process to address problems identified."

(PR/JM)