asked the Minister for Lands if he has any plans to enable the inhabitants of Inishturk Island, County Mayo to live on the mainland; and, if so, if he will indicate (a) where lands and housing are to be provided and (b) when this operation is likely to commence.
Ceisteanna—Questions. - County Mayo Island.
59.
(Cavan): There are at present no proposals to provide assistance to enable the inhabitants of Inishturk, County Mayo, to settle on the mainland.
I am afraid the Minister's answer is not in line with a reply I received from his colleague, the Minister for Transport and Power, who told me when I put down a question asking to have the electricity supply extended to Inishturk Island that there were plans to have the people of Inishturk taken to the mainland.
(Cavan): I was not aware of that answer and I am sure it is perfectly correct. As the Deputy may know, plans to assist islanders to move to the mainland are not initiated by the Department of Lands but by the central development committee which comes under the Department of Finance. If the islanders would like assistance to move to the mainland, they should approach the central development committee and the best way to do that is through the local development team.
Is this a new departure? I was of the opinion that the Land Commission arranged holdings for people being taken from islands to the mainland.
(Cavan): The Land Commission act as agents when a decision has been taken by the central development committee. It is like a county council acting as the agent in certain rural improvement schemes.
Is the Minister aware of the grave dissatisfaction of the islanders of Inishturk and Inishturbot in County Galway who have been offered a certain amount of assistance which is totally inadequate to meet their needs?
That is a separate question.
I know it is a separate question.
If the Deputy knows it is a separate question he should not ask it.
I am asking the Minister to review the financial aid which is inadequate. No progress at all has been made in establishing holdings on the mainland for these residents.
(Cavan): Deputy Molloy put down a question about that previously. If my memory serves me correctly he had it adjourned on a number of occasions. Finally when it was reached he did not find it possible to be here. I am sure he had some other——
That is irrelevant. I did not happen to be in Dublin.
The whole discussion is irrelevant. Question No. 60.
I was so interested in the question that I asked to have it adjourned. That was very small-minded of the Minister.
(Cavan): If the Deputy communicates with me either by question or letter I will deal with it.
I thought the Minister would be interested to know that the amount he provided is unsatisfactory to the islanders. It would not shift the asses' carts never mind the islanders.
(Cavan): If the Deputy puts down a question I will answer it and if he is here we can deal with it.
If the Minister was interested in it he would know about it. He should look it up.
(Cavan): The Deputy would not have thought of it but but for the fact that Deputy Gallagher put down another question.
That is not so.
Question No. 60.