Vol. 472 No. 3
4 D'fhiafraigh Éamon Ó Cuív den Taoiseach cé mhéid den airgead a bhí curtha ar fáil sa gclúdach speisialta do na hOileáin, atá ceadaithe ag an Roinn go dtí seo agus cén uair atá sé i gceist caiteachas eile a cheadú agus an féidir leis deimhniú a thabhairt go gcaithfear an t-airgead iomlán a cheadófar faoin gciste seo a bheith caite roimh dheireadh 1996; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [22041/96]
5 Mr. B. Ahern asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the meeting between a Minister of State at his Department and representatives of the islands on Thursday, 14 November 1996. [22072/96]
6 Mr. Molloy asked the Taoiseach the progress, if any, made to date on the implementation of the Report on Offshore Islands. [21875/96]
7 Mr. Molloy asked the Taoiseach the steps, if any, which have been taken to date to implement the recommendations of the interdepartmental co-ordinating committee on island development to increase the economic impact of tourism on islands in the context of tourism development, generally taking into account the need to retain the islands' unique culture, language and the preservation of their environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22058/96]
Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 4-7 le chéile.
Leagann Tuarascáil an Choiste Idir-Ranna um Fhorbairt Oileán straitéis fhadtréimhseach amach maidir le forbairt eacnamaíoch agus shóisialta na n-oileán amach ón gcósta. Is laistigh den chreatlach seo is féidir le Ranna Rialtais agus áisíneachtaí athbhreithniú a dhéanamh ar pholasaithe reatha maidir lena n-éifeacht ar na hoileáin, agus sainriachtanais phobal na n-oileán a chur san áireamh nuair atá polasaithe nua i gceist. Tá ról lárnach ag an gCoiste Idir-Ranna i gcomhordú an phróiséis seo agus i ndíriú ar cheisteanna a bhaineann leis na hoileáin.
Tá dul chun cinn déanta i líon áirithe réimsí ó foilsíodh an Tuarascáil i mí Feabhra na bliana seo. Ón uair sin i leith bhí an-chuid cruinnithe agam le pobail oileánda agus tá cuairteanna tugtha agam ar na hoileáin chun go bhfeicfinn dom féin na deachractaí a bhíonn acu ó lá go lá. Dá bhrí sin tá mé láneolach ar na ceisteanna seo agus tá mé sásta gurb í an stráitéis atá leagtha amach sa Tuarascáil an cur chuige is fearr chun inmharthanacht fhadtréimhseach a chinntiú do na hoileáin.
D'aithin an Tuarascáil rochtain idir na hoileáin agus an mhórthír mar an phríomhcheist gur chóir díriú uirthi i mbliana agus tá milliún punt breise curtha ar fáil i 1996 chun na críche seo amháin.
Mar thoradh ar an gcóras nua oibre atá i bhfeidhm, bunaithe ar mholtaí sa Tuarascáil, tá tograí rochtana roghnaithe agus curtha in ord tosaíochta ag Coistí Oileánda na nÚdarás Áitiúil atá i gceist. Go dtí seo, tá thart ar sé chéad míle punt ceadaithe agam do thograí práinneacha rochtana. Tá mé ag súil go mbeidh mé in ann a fhógairt go luath go bhfuil maoiniú breise ceadaithe chomh luath agus a chríochnaíonn an Coiste Idir-Ranna an obair mheasúnaithe.
Tá sé mar chuspóir agam iomlán an mhilliún punt a dháileadh roimh dheireadh na bliana má bhíonn tograí oiriúnacha ar fáil.
Ón uair gur seoladh an Tuarascáil tá roinnt eile moltaí tábháchtacha á gcur i bhfeidhm. Mar shampla:
(i) tá geallta ag an Roinn Oideachais go gcuirfear leas phobal na n-oileán san áireamh sna Boird Oideachais Réigiúnacha atá á moladh;
(ii) tá uasteorainn an tástáil maoine maidir leis an Deontas Lóistín do Cheantar Iargúlta méadaithe go suntasach i gcomhréir le deontais oideachais triú leibhéal;
(iii) tá gach ceann de na hÚdaráis Áitiúla ag cur plean oibre infrastruchtúir 3-5 bhliain le chéile do na hoileáin faoina gcúram;
(iv) tá na tearmaí tagartha do staidéar ar chur chuige straitéiseach maidir le forbairt turasóireachta na n-oileán á n-ullmhú i gcomhairle le Comhdháil Oileán na hÉireann; agus
(v) tá socraithe á bhforbairt chun seirbhísí poiblí riachtanacha a sholáthar do na hoileáin trí úsáid theicneolaíocht an eolais.
Bíonn teagmháil rialta idir mo Roinn agus Comhdháil Oileán na hÉireann. Bhí an cruinniú is déanaí agam le hionadaithe na Comhdhála ar an gceathrú lá déag de mhí na Samhna agus phléamar roinnt ceisteanna a bhaineann le pobail na n-oileán. Orthu seo bhí dáileadh an mhilliún punt do sheirbhísí rochtana, oibriú an chórais a leagtar síos sa tuarascáil trína n-aithnítear tograí tosaíochta ag an leibhéal áitiúil agus phléamar freisin an dul chun cinn atá déanta maidir le tograí áirithe. Tá an Rialtas lándíograiseach maidir le stráitéis oileánda agus maidir le cinntiú go dtagann comhoibriú agus tacaíocht iomlán ó na Ranna Rialais agus na háisíneachtaí atá i gceist chun leanúint ar aghaidh ag tabhairt feidhme do mholtaí na Tuarascála.
Is the Minister of State aware of the widespread dismay in the offshore island communities at the lack of progress in implementing any of the recommendations in the inter departmental island report? The Minister of State has been in office for two years and the commitment to spend £1 million in this financial year has not been fulfilled although we are nearly at the end of the year. Galway County Council has the largest offshore island population of any county. The number one priority submitted to the Minister of State's Department was the provision of an air service to Inishbofin. No report has been received in relation to that application other than a statement from the Department that until a feasibility study is undertaken the proposal cannot be further considered.
Let us proceed with brief and relevant questions, not statements or information.
Is the Minister of State aware that progress cannot be made on Galway County Council's priority projects until he sanctions the payment of about £5,000 to £6,000 for a feasibility study? Will he give an assurance that this will be done before the end of the year?
When the report was published I indicated the model adopted by Cork County Council of an islands committee would be used as a model for submitting proposals to the Department for infrastructural developments on offshore islands. Cork County Council islands committee consisted of members of island communities, represented by Chomhdháil Oileánn na hÉireann, and county councillors for the areas contiguous to the islands. This system worked well. It has taken other county councils some time to establish similar committees.
The schemes submitted originally did not reflect the wishes of island communities. This has resulted in delays. Despite this, £600,000 has been allocated to projects properly analysed by the Department. The islands off County Galway will receive approximately £800,000 this year. It is clear, therefore, that they have not been neglected. In the case of Inishbofin, I have approved the payment of a grant for the provision of lights on a helipad which were urgently needed. When the formal documentation is completed for the feasibility study of a fixed-wing air service I am sure Galway County Council's request will be favourably considered. Any delays are due to teething problems in operating the new system. There are certain standards to be met.
Galway County Council islands committee listed an air service to Inishbofin as one of its priority projects. Will a grant be paid for a feasibility study before the end of the year?
When the terms have been negotiated by the islands committee of Galway County Council it may be possible to pay a grant but the formalities have to be completed. If I was asked to account for this money at the Committee of Public Accounts, Deputy Molloy would not like it if matters were not in order and things were not done properly. I am trying to ensure the standards I inherited are adhered to.
That is an extraordinary answer.
There is nothing wrong with it. When the application was made originally there was no indication as to who would be responsible for the airstrip. Following negotiations, Galway County Council is willing to issue a CPO. Some progress has been made in this direction.
What percentage of the total allocation available to the Minister of State will be devoted to access services?
A total of £592,250 has been allocated. Donegal County Council received £157,250; Mayo County Council £25,000, and Galway County Council £60,000 and £328,000. In recent days a grant to Galway County Council of £17,000 and an additional £5,000 for Clare Island have been approved. As the House will recall, there was a ferry tragedy on Bere Island, following which the islands committee agreed to Cork County Council's proposal to construct a slipway at Pontoon Pier. The islanders, however, wanted a slipway and pier. It took from March to October to complete the documentation. I am glad Cork County Council has agreed to put up £100,000 and my Department £328,000 to eliminate any difficulties encountered on the eastern end of the island.
When Donegal County Council submitted its five priority projects it received a prompt response from the Minister of State who approved grants totalling £157,000. I understand it has submitted a supplementary list of priority projects and that £400,000 of the £1 million available for access projects remains to be allocated. Is there any prospect that any of the projects listed will be financed or a decision made before the end of the year? Should it not prove possible to spend the money that remains to be allocated before the end of the year — this may be difficult during the winter months when islands are cut off because of high seas — will it be carried over to next year?
Donegal County Council islands committee operates very efficiently. It understood all the criteria in examining projects with the result that all of its requests have been granted. It has submitted a further list of projects which are being examined. I am due to meet its representatives tomorrow. I expect that, if matters are in order, funds will be allocated. I have requested the Department of Finance to permit funds to be carried over into 1997. I am awaiting publication of the Estimates.
Will the Minister of State let me have the details of the offshore island projects which have been approved and to which moneys have been allocated?
I will arrange to have the information forwarded to the Deputy.
Ba mhaith liom deimhniú don Aire Stáit nach gach aon airgead atá ceadaithe a bheith caite i 1996 agus go mbeadh cead ag na dreamanna atá ag fáil airgid an tairgead sin a chaitheamh i 1997, ó tharla go mbeadh am-mhoill ar an Aire ag ceadú an airgid seo, mar a dúirt sé linn an chéad am. An nglacann an tAire Stáit leis gur ceann de na fadhbanna atá tar éis éirí sa chás seo ar fad ná, nuair a cuireadh na cácleis faoi bhráid na gcomhairlí contae, shíl siad go raibh an tairgead le bheith caite i 1996, agus anois ní féidir leis a bheith caite sa bhliain seo? Tá mé ag iarraidh deimhniú, uimhir a haon, go mbeidh cead acu é a chaitheamh i 1997 agus, uimhir a dó, go dtiochfaidh sé arais go na comhairlí chontae a mhíniú cén fáth go raibh an obair lár seo ann, agus cén fáth go tugadh le fios go gcaithfí é a chaitheamh i 1996 agus anois go bhfuil——
Seoladh an tuarascáil i mí Feabhra an bhliain seo. Gheallamar gur cuireadh £1 milliún ar fáil i gcóir seirbhísí rochtana agus oibreacha eile feabhsacháin. Bhuail mé leis an comhairlí contae a bhí i gceist agus mhínigh mé polasaí an Rialtais i leith na n-oileán dóibh agus an ról lárnach a bhí ag an tuarascáil. D'iarr me orthu coiste oileán a bhunú cosúil le coiste atá ag Comhairle Chontae Corcaigh agus survey a dhéanamh i gcomhairle le Comhdháil Oileán na hÉireann ar an obair a bheadh riachtannach. Cuireadh córas simplí i bhfeidhm ach bhí sé i gcónaí riachtanach go gcloífí le gnáth choinníollacha cuntas riartha an Rialtas. Nuair a cuireadh an chéad chlár oibre chun tosaigh, ní raibh go leor eolais ann agus b'éigean d'oifigí ó mo Roinn tuilleadh eolas a lorg. Thóg an próiséis seo am ach bhí sé riachtannach chun a chinntiú go bhfaigheadh an Stát luach a chuid airgid. D'iarr mise ar an Aire Airgeadais i dtaobh na Estimates do 1997 go mbeadh na tograí a bhí geallta againn san áireamh nuair a bheadh an airgead tugtha dom do mo Roinnse i 1997 agus táim ag súil go mbeidh an dul chun cinn déanta agam.
County councils were given the impression that money sanctioned in 1996 would be expended in that year. Will the Minister clarify if money sanctioned now can be spent in 1997 and if it was not intended that money sanctioned in 1996 would be spent in that year? Does he accept that plans drawn up by the county councils were compiled on that basis and they did not expect that money sanctioned now could be spent in subsequent years?
This effort began in early 1996. We had to establish these committees.
Níl aon choiste ar aon chuma le fada an lá.
Bhuel, ní raibh na daoine as Chomhdháil na n-Oileán ar na coistí seo.
Bhí siad.
Ní raibh. Mar a dúirt mé i bhfreagra eile, ní raibh tograí curtha le chéile ag na comhairlí contae agus sin é an fath nach bhfuil an t-airgead caite. That is the reason the money is not spent. There is no difficulty in this regard. However, there were teething problems. I do not understand the reason Deputy Ó Cuív will not assist me in making representations to the Minister for Finance to include this in the 1997 Estimates to meet the demands of the islanders. We have approved much of this work. The Minister for Finance understands about inclement weather and that people will not be able to complete these works which will have to be taken into account. I am confident that representations I make will be listened to, as they have been before. I hope all the works for which proper approval has been given will proceed in 1997.
Dá bhfaighinn freagraí símplí ar na ceisteanna bheadh muid ag dul ar aghaidh i bhfad níos tapúla ach níl muid ag fáil freagraí ceart. Cuireann sé iontas orm go bhfuil an tAire Stáit ag iarraidh go dtiocfaidh mé anois ag an Aire Airgeadais. Le sin ráite, an bhfuil sé fíor gur cuireadh moladh ar barr an liosta ag do Roinnse go Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe ag iarraidh airgid le haigheadh staidéar féidireachta ar thógáil aerstráice ar Inis Bó Finne? Nach dtógfadh sé móran scrúdú leis an staidear sin a cheadú mar go dtuigeann an saol go bhfuil an aerstráice ag teastáil. An bhfuil sé fíor nach bhfuil aon scéala ná cinneadh déanta ag do Roinn faoin rud áirithe? An bhfuil sé fíor freisin, i láthair na huaire, tar éis go bhfuil córais iompair farantóireachta ag na hoileáin Ghaeltachta le foirdheontas, nach bhfuil aon fhoirdheontas ag na córais iompair ar na h-oileáin mhara Galltachta agus mar sin nach féidir a bheith cinnte go mbeadh seirbhís cheart geimhridh farantóireachta ar fáil ag na h-oileán sin. Sin dhá cheist an-simplí go bhfuil freagraí ní amháin a dhul domsa ach go muintir na n-oileán ar céard tá ag dul ag tarlú fúthú.
An cheist dheireannach, sin ceist eile a bheidh ar freagra ar Cheisteanna Uimh. 8 agus 9. I dtaobh an chéad cheist, thug mé freagra don Teachta Uí Mhaoildhia go raibh mo Roinnse ag déanamh staidéir ar an iarratais a chur Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe isteach agus scríobhamar ag an choiste ag lorg eolais nua. Aontaím leis an Teachta go bhfuil gá le seirbhísi aer go Inis Bó Finne agus tá mise ag iarraidh gach rud a chur san áireamh agus mo dhúlgaisí a chomhlíonadh don Roinn chomh maith leis na daoine ar na hoileán.
Some £10,000 was requested to carry out a feasibility study on an airstrip for Inisbofin. Does the Minister agree that the purpose of a feasibility study is to answer questions the Department might have on the feasibility of this project? Sanctioning such a small amount of money could not have taken the Department six months. The proposal was put by Galway County Council last June. I do not understand the reason it has not yet been decided. When will a decision be made on the application by Galway County Council for money for a feasibility study for this service which is urgently needed?
I am always willing to answer Deputy Ó Cuív's questions no matter how contrary they are. Galway County Council or the island's committee applied in June. At that time no indication was given as to who would own this airstrip. My Department was not in a position to fund it when it did not know who would own the land. Eventually, Galway County Council told us it was prepared to compulsorily purchase the land. The committee has been working on a partnership model between local authorities, the Department and the islanders. In some cases, this means the local authority makes a small contribution. I said that Cork County Council spent £100,000 on the proposal for Bere Island. However, Galway County Council has not offered a shilling towards the proposal. A partnership was not offered. We did not ask for much, only that the idea of a partnership be put forward in the proposal. Donegal County Council, Mayo County Council and Cork County Council have done this.
Does the Minister realise how foolish he looks? This Government appointed him as Minister with special responsibly for the off-shore islands. It has allocated £1 million to be spent in 1996. As Minister with sole responsibility for these matters, he has failed to spend even £1 million, which may now go back to the Exchequer. Does he realise the islanders see little result from his appointment? Does he accept he should have ensured these projects were brought forward and the paltry sum made available was utilised in the year in which it was allocated?
Deputy Molloy is usually very assertive but I totally reject his claims. I visited all the islands and witnessed the problems there.
The Minister did nothing about them.
Not very long ago when Deputy Molloy was Minister in a key position he had an opportunity to invest in the proposal for Inishbofin Island, and also to make improvements to piers and so on, but he did not do so.
I did.
He now comes in here and tells me I am wrong in ensuring that minimalist conditions are adhered to with regard to spending taxpayers' money. Where is Deputy Molloy coming from? I am not asking Galway County Council for matching funds; I am simply asking it to make a contribution towards expenditure in this regard. If that is done we will be able to answer all these calls.
I recognise the difference between waffling and action.
