asked the Minister for Finance if the Central Development Committee recommended the provision of a helicopter service to Inishbofin, County Galway, and if he will take steps to implement this recommendation.
Written Answers. - County Galway Helicopter Service.
149.
The Central Development Committee never made any recommendation as to the provision of a helicopter service to any island. The second part of the question does not arise therefore.
In 1977 the inhabited non-Gaeltacht islands sub-committee of the Central Development Committee examined the question of helicopter services. This sub-committee did not recommend any increase in the level of service; they merely recommended that existing emergency services by the Department of Defence be formalised. There had already been a formalised arrangement, operated by the Department of Defence, in relation to helicopter ambulance services. In the light of this it was considered that there was no need to formalise arrangements for helicopter services in the event of other emergencies. At present Inishbofin can avail of the flexible arrangements which exist for the provision of helicopters to relieve the islands during periods of isolation and the Minister for Defence assured the House on 2 February 1983 that these arrangements are operating satisfactorily.