82 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Finance the new development, if any, concerning the proposal to merge the Trustee Savings Bank with another bank or banks; and if he will make a statement on the current position. [2582/96]

There has been no change in the situation as outlined in my reply to the Deputy on 28 November 1995.

Options for restructuring the State banks, including the Trustee Savings Bank, continue to be examined by myself and a number of Government colleagues with a view to identifying the most effective solution having regard to the nature of the individual institutions, their particular customer markets, the needs of the whole community in its broadest sense and developments in the EU.