asked the Minister for Finance if, further to his statement of 2nd December, 1959, on the subject of special measures for people living on the islands around the coast, that they were all anxious to see what they could do but that they wanted to know what the facts were before they sat down to find out what the remedy would be, he will state what position he has now reached in ascertaining what the facts are in regard to the special position of these island-dwellers; what action has already been taken to ameliorate their position; and what action he proposes to take in the future to improve the standard of living of these people.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Position of Island Dwellers.
22.
On 3rd August, 1961, I announced that, having considered the report of an Inter-Departmental Committee set up to examine general conditions prevailing on inhabited islands off the coast, the Government had decided to set up a permanent Inter-Departmental Committee to co-ordinate the activities of Government Departments in relation to the islands and, in particular, to examine and to act as a clearing medium for projects relating to the islands involving action by more than one Department.
I further announced that the Government had, at the same time, approved of the following measures:
(1) A scheme similar to the Gaeltacht islands bottled gas scheme would be extended to non-Gaeltacht islands which have no electricity or little prospect of obtaining it.
(2) Telephone services would be provided for four additional islands, namely, Inishmeane, Co. Donegal; Achillbeg, Co. Mayo, Inishturk, Co. Galway, and Long Island, Co. Cork.
(3) The question of improving island landing facilities would be sympathetically considered and, in particular, an Exchequer grant would be made available to meet the cost of extending the pier at Kilronan on Inishmore in the Aran Islands.
(4) Additional Exchequer grants up to £5,000 a year would be provided for the improvement of county and accommodation roads on the islands.
(5) A scheme would be prepared for the award of a limited number of State scholarships for island children; and
(6) Local authorities would be asked to pay particular attention to housing conditions on the islands in the survey of housing conditions in their areas which they were recently asked to carry out.
Action on these measures has been, or is being, taken.