Assessment of the Credit Review Office (CRO)

Tender description

The Action Plan for Jobs 2012 contains the following commitment:“3.40 Assess the Credit Review Office to ensure SMEs are getting the support on bank lending they require.”The assessment should:- Examine the activities of the CRO to date in encouraging and increasing the supply of credit to viable borrowers;- Examine the operation of the CRO and its dealings with the banks, the borrowers, the media, business representative bodies, Government Departments, other public bodies and members of the public;- Examine how the CRO has fulfilled its statutory functions as well as other work undertaken in pursuit of its objectives;- Examine whether the statutory basis under which the CRO operates should be adjusted to assist it in the above objectives. This could include, but is not limited to, the charging regime, the thresholds and the banks which participate in the process;- Consider the volumes of interactions between borrowers and the CRO and the outcomes of these interactions, particularly with reference to the financial and employment outcomes and subsequent performance;- In accordance with the Action Plan, assess whether the CRO provides the appropriate supports to borrowers seeking credit;- Examine the operational arrangements of the Office and its relationship with Enterprise Ireland;- Compare the operation of the CRO with similar organisations in other countries;- Examine whether the CRO has the appropriate processes, staffing structures and other resources to achieve its objectives.