asked the Minister for Finance if he will make funds available as a matter of urgency for the improvement of harbour facilities for Inishturk Island, County Mayo.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Harbour Facilities for Islanders.
9.
The central development committee which operates under the aegis of my Department is engaged in a process of consultation with the relevant Departments and State agencies with a view to determining whether expenditure on the improvement of landing facilities on Inishturk would be justified. According to the most recent estimate of costs provided by the Office of Public Works, harbour works on Inishturk would cost £276,000. It must be said, however, that having regard to the state of public finances, it is unlikely that funds will be available for work on Inishturk in the foreseeable future.
Does the Minister accept that the state of the pier is precarious and dangerous at present and that access is almost impossible? It is necessary to have repairs carried out as soon as possible.
I am aware that there are a number of difficulties in relation to the state of the harbour facilities at Inishturk. As I have already indicated the matter is being reviewed by the central development committee. It would appear that there are a number of other works that would have to be given a higher priority.
Is the Minister aware that there is a drive to get bigger boats on the island and that the islanders tend to use the harbours off the mainland in order to keep their boats? This has had the effect of whole families moving away from the island. From that point of view would he not consider it urgent that something be done to keep the people in their own community?
I realise that there were a number of difficulties in relation to Inishturk. The matter is being examined but I have given the opinion that other works will merit a higher priority than that one.
10.
asked the Minister for Finance if he will consider the provision of special grants for harbour development for islanders in order to improve the serious position now prevailing on many of our islands because of unsuitable piers and lack of access generally.
My remit covers only cases where there is a need to co-ordinate the work of Departments and State agencies in relation to inhabited non-Gaeltacht islands. In such cases, the central development committee evaluate the case for carrying out work which could not be justified by reference to a single requirement such as, for example, the level of fishing activity. In the circumstances, I consider it best to evaluate each case on its merits rather than to devise a general scheme of assistance.
Does the Minister accept that the tendency in relation to the development of harbours and islands appears to be that the criterion used on the mainland is always applied to islands and that expenditure will not be allowed unless it is proved that fish landings are sufficient to warrant State expenditure? This is an unfair criterion as far as islands are concerned.
I have made the point that where it could be shown, for example, that the level of fishing activity was sufficient to justify the work, I would not be answering the question because it would not fall within my remit.
In so far as the Deputy is putting a question to me about my involvement with the matter, I have explained that the work of the central development committee relates to co-ordination and evaluation and arises only where the work proposed cannot be justified by reference to one set of criteria but by taking into account a number of different factors.
Would the Minister accept that generally speaking the position regarding harbour development on most islands is serious? The tendency among islanders now is to have bigger and better boats but for these vessels they need harbour facilities. Would the Minister not accept that the Department of Finance are guided by the Department of Fisheries in regard to harbour development, whether on islands or on the mainland and that it appears to be unfair to islanders that there is no other way of assessing their requirements in respect of harbour facilities? The only means by which islanders can have access to their islands is by way of harbour facilities.
I have said the opposite. If development were justified solely by reference to fisheries, the central development committee would not have a function in the matter. It is only when development is not justified solely by reference to the level of fishing activity that I would have any involvement.
The Minister stated in a previous answer that a sum of £276,000 was estimated in respect of a programme for harbour development at Inishturk and that he considered there were other more important works but what could be more important than the development of a pier for islanders?
A complete answer to that question would involve a review of the various headings in the Public Capital Programme.
The Minister will be aware that the lack of harbour facilities is hampering fishing activity and that for this reason there is difficulty in establishing a case for developing a harbour. Obviously, there will be very little fishing activity when the only harbour available is a very poor one. Can the Minister give any indication of the extent of the problem the committee are considering? He indicated earlier that they were considering a variety of cases and I presume these relate to the west coast. Can he indicate also whether funds will be available from the EC Regional Fund to assist in the development of this important infrastructure along the west coast?
The Deputy is asking me to go into matters of assessment of fisheries policy and that is not my function here.
Perhaps the Minister misunderstood me. We appreciate that we are not discussing a matter of fisheries policy but surely the provision of harbour facilities relates to matters other than those connected with fishing.
Has the Deputy a question?
There are a variety of considerations, for instance, economically and from a tourism point of view in which the central developments people have a role to play.
That is a speech.
Can the Minister indicate the extent of the problems the committee are considering and whether they made any effort to obtain moneys from the Regional Fund?
The Deputy is giving a lot of information.
We are unable to get the information from the Minister.
In so far as the Minister has indicated that the matter is one relating to the Public Capital Programme, would he be prepared, in the application of priorities within the programme, to make special provision where necessary for infrastructure on islands in contrast with the mainland? As both my colleagues have been arguing, harbour development is much more important to the whole life of an island than would be the case of the mainland. Is there a special provision for extra support for what one might refer to as the main avenue of development on an island, that is, the harbour? Is there not special support available from the EC for such works and have the Government sought such support?
Deputy O'Kennedy has returned to the original question in reply to which I said I consider it best to evaluate each case on its merits rather than devising a general scheme of assistance.
That is not reasonable.
The Chair has been very generous in regard to the supplementaries.
Is the Minister telling us seriously that there is no scheme of priorities in his Department and within the Public Capital Programme which determines each decision? There should be a scheme of priorities for islands with preference given to harbour development but I understand the Minister to say that is not the case.
I have just said it is my view — and this has been the view of my predecessors over a long time — that each of these schemes should be evaluated on its merits and that consequently each would fall to be considered within the context of the Public Capital Programme each year compared with other schemes in the programme.
It is crazy that there are no guidelines.
While we all accept that the central development committee have done a great job for the islands in terms of their various recommendations can the Minister tell us if the committee are meeting regularly and if there are priorities in relation to the various works that should be undertaken on the islands with reference particularly to harbour development?
That goes back to the original question again and the answer is the same.
There was no answer given.