asked the Minister for Communications whether provision has been made in the 1986 Estimates for expenditure on a proposed new passenger and freight ferry for the Aran Islands, County Galway; and when a final decision will be made in this matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Aran Islands Service Ferry.
2.
The examination of the proposed replacement of the Aran ferry service is at an advanced stage. I am at present awaiting a revised proposal from CIE in the matter following a civil engineering study which the board have in hand, the results of which will be important from the point of view of establishing costs. The results of hydrographic surveys to be carried out by the Office of Public Works may also have an important bearing on the conclusions to be reached. As soon as all relevant information is available I will be able to seek Government approval in the matter, including any required financial provision. Meanwhile, no express financial provision has been made for 1986.
Is it true that when the Minister visited the island two years ago he promised that he would make his decision within two months of that visit? According to today's reply the matter is still under consideration.
I had a very happy visit to the Aran Islands just one year ago. The anniversary was two weeks ago. It had been my hope to go back this year for St. Patrick's weekend but I was unable to do so.
I was near it, as a substitute.
I indicated at the time of my visit to the Aran Islands that I would meet Comhchoiste na gComharchumann of the islands within two months to tell them where we were going.
I did so and we have had several fruitful meetings with the comhchoiste in the meantime. Great progress has been made. I am very hopeful that we will be able to announce a decision on this matter before the summer.
Is it proposed that CIE will be involved in the service? Will the service be operated by an island committee? Has a decision been made as to whether the freight and passenger service will operate from Rosabhil rather than Galway and has a decision been made as to whether there will be an inter-island boat between the Aran Islands?
No, no, no and no.
In view of the fact that costs will be something to be considered in this matter, have the Minister's Department examined the position in relation to what has happened in Greece and Scotland where large grants have been made available from the Regional Fund because they were able to prepare a package which made it possible to get EC funding towards schemes of this kind for islands, and where they have benefited to a great extent from the EC? They got grants towards providing ferries, terminals, air strips and so on. Has the Minister or the Department considered this in relation to providing the services that are necessary not alone to the Aran Islands but to all our islands?
The Deputy can take it that all these questions are being addressed. I praise the members of Comhchoiste na gComharchumann of the islands for the work they have done. They are an impressive group who have done a very fine research job, have prepared their case very well and presented it in a persuasive manner.
Does the Minister accept that the proposals put forward by CIE are totally inadequate for the service required for the islands?
I do not wish to say much about the different proposals at this stage because the situation is still evolving. There has been thorough discussion about the formula to provide transport not only between the mainland and the islands but between the islands. Many things have to be taken into account, including the results of the hydrographic survey being done by the OPW. There is also a question of tidal conditions and many other things including, for instance, the need for a road infrastructure and depot facilities which would be needed if there were a relocation of the mainland terminal.
I have one other question on that.
Do I take it from the Minister's four "nos" that he is saying "no" to my question as to whether CIE would be involved in the proposed new services?
We have not yet resolved whether CIE or an alternative will run the service. The location of the mainland terminal has not yet been decided. That answers the main parts of the Deputy's question.
Major decisions have not yet been made in regard to any of the important aspects of the proposals?
Final decisions have not yet been made. I am conscious of what the islanders want and they have put their case very persuasively. Final decisions will have to await the hydrographic survey and other technical reports which are being finalised.
Will the Minister give the House an indication of the scale of the costs of the proposals that are under consideration?
It is hard to quantify this. We are talking about millions of pounds, how many will be influenced by, for instance, the work that may be necessary to provide a berth on the mainland, the link span costs on the islands, the cost of a boat or boats and the cost of new depots, waiting rooms or whatever, on both sides. It is difficult to estimate the cost with any accuracy until we know the location and have all the technical reports.
Is the Minister satisfied with the condition of the Naomh Éanna which has been serving the islands for many decades?
If there was a question about the safety of the vessel it would not be permitted to operate by the marine survey office of my Department. The fact that we are addressing with speed and enthusiasm, the question of transport for the Aran Islands indicates an acknowledgement that present transport arrangements are not satisfactory.
What age is it?
A final supplementary from Deputy Fahey.
The Minister referred to the persuasiveness of the islanders, but it does not appear to have brought them very far. I put it to the Minister that the Highlands and Islands Board in Scotland got several million pounds from the EC in the last number of years for schemes such as this. Has the Minister made any proposals to the EC for funding this scheme? If not, the Minister has wasted valuable time and has ensured that funds will not be available from the EC in the foreseeable future for this urgent purpose. The islanders are very dissatisfied with the proposals of CIE and with the delays which have been caused apparently by CIE. The CIE proposals are entirely inadequate and the proposals which the islanders made are those on which the Minister should be moving.
I do not wish to be churlish but it is a bit much for Deputy Fahey to question me because for the first time today he has come in on this discussion. The Deputy should not attack me for lack of attention to the matter. Deputies Molloy, Coogan and Donnellan have been very active in bringing deputations to see me and they were present when I as the first Minister for Transport visited the Aran Islands——
The Minister was not the first Minister to visit the Aran Islands.
I was the first Minister for Transport to visit them to discuss transport matters.
(Interruptions.)
I hope Deputy Fahey will forgive me for taking exception to his questions.
Perhaps the Minister would answer the question. If I have been consulted it indicates that the islanders are so dissatisfied with progress made to date that they have now asked the fourth TD in this constituency to get involved.
(Interruptions.)
A question, please.
I have asked a question and the Minister has refused to answer it.
On a point of order, it is the duty of the Minister to answer the questions asked by Deputies in this House. Deputy Fahey is a member of that constituency and if the affairs of the islands have been neglected by people from the constituency in the past, Deputy Fahey cannot be blamed for it.
A final response, please.
I apologise for being a bit harsh on Deputy Fahey. My relationship with Comhchoiste na gComharchumann has been exceedingly good. They have been in constant touch with my Department and I have seen them regularly at my suggestion so that this thing can progress. Hopefully it will be resolved in the coming weeks.
(Interruptions.)
An Leas-Cheann comhairle
Question No. 3.
Could the Minister answer that important question as to whether he has put any proposals to the EC for funding for this scheme?
When we are clear as to the project we will make all the necessary representations or presentations for any funds that may be available.
(Interruptions.)
This has gone on too long. Question No. 3. We have had only two questions in 20 minutes.
On behalf of the islanders I should like to express appreciation to the Minister for the personal interest he has taken in this matter and I urge him to make an early decision as to the scheme to be adopted.
My Galway wife will see to that.