Bertie Ahern
Question:10 Mr. B. Ahern asked the Taoiseach his views on whether there is adequate funding for the recent report on island development. [2968/96]
Written Answers. - Offshore Island Development.
Bertie Ahern
Question:11 Mr. B. Ahern asked the Taoiseach his views on whether from the point of view of funding essential infrastructure, the distinction between a Gaeltacht and non-Gaeltacht island should be maintained; and the plans, if any, there are in this regard. [2969/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 11 together.
The problems which affect our offshore island communities are complex and long standing. This Government has, for the first time, explicitly acknowledged the unique contribution that our offshore islands make to the fabric of Irish society and has developed a strategic response to the problems they face.
As chairman of the Interdepartmental Co-ordinating Committee on Island Development, it gave me great satisfaction to publish the committee's report. The report identifies and addresses the long-term issues affecting the communities on our offshore islands. It establishes a coherent and comprehensive basis for Government policy in relation to the islands. Finally and most importantly, it sets out a strategic framework within which future action in relation to the economic and social development of our island communities is to be pursued.
One of the key strategic issues identified in the report as being crucial to the development and long-term viability of the islands is access transport — that is to say the availability of a regular, reliable and safe transport service.
At local level, the relevant local authorities through their Islands committees are being asked to draw up, in conjunction with Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann, expenditure proposals for the development of a minimum standard of access service. These will be submitted to the interdepartmental co-ordinating committee for assessment.
The report identifies the total level of current expenditure on island access transport services at approximately £900,000 per annum. The Government has agreed to the consolidation of expenditure by Government Departments on island access services within a single financial envelope, which I will co-ordinate as chairman of the interdepartmental co-ordinating committee. This action should significantly simplify, for islands and Government Departments alike, the present administrative arrangements in respect of funding for island access transport services. Furthermore, I am delighted that the Government has agreed to an additional provision this year of £1 million to this financial envelope.
In addition to addressing the issues of access, the report recommends that there relevant local authorities carry out a survey of their islands in order to draw up a priority list of costed works required to ensure a minimum standard of infrastructure on each island. I am arranging to meet the local authorities involved in order to get this work under way.
Appropriate administrative structures are key to the ongoing development of the islands. Accordingly, and on foot of recommendations in the interdepartmental co-ordinating committee's report, important new administrative structures and mechanisms are also being established at national, regional and local level. These mechanisms will ensure that the work being done by the many organisations involved in the development of islands will be co-ordinated and the maximum benefits gained from available resources.
These new administrative relationships will ensure that the unique circumstances of island communities are given full consideration in the formulation and implementation of policies at a national, regional and local level. The interdepartmental co-ordinating committee will remain in operation for a further period of three years to oversee the implementation of the proposals in the report.
An important additional element in the Government's response to island communities is recognition of Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann as a LEADER group. Under the LEADER II programme, £1 million is being provided to the islands for economic and social development. This is the first time that offshore islands have been separately designated for a programme such as this. The Islands LEADER II programme is complementary to the actions being taken on foot of the report of the, interdepartmental co-ordinating committee. Jointly, these two initiatives will make a significant contribution to the development of all island communities.
Finally, as regards funding, at the end of last year, I made grants totalling £120,000 to island communities in respect of a number of community development initiatives. This funding included a grant of £32,000 to Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann in recognition of its important role as the representative organisation of island communities. This grant is assisting An Chomhdháil to develop an inter-island communications network. It will also improve the effectiveness of its operation and administration.
I am confident that the wide ranging and strategically based proposals of the report of the interdepartmental co-ordinating committee will be of significant assistance to all our offshore islands. I believe that the very positive response by the Government to the proposals within the report clearly illustrates its commitment to the long-term viability of the offshore island communities. The welcome Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann has given the proposals in the report is, I believe, a clear recognition of this commitment.