Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 22 Jan 1997

Vol. 473 No. 4

Written Answers. - Inishmore Infrastructural Facilities.

Robert Molloy

Question:

19 Mr. Molloy asked the Taoiseach if his attention has been drawn to the inadequate infrastructural facilities on Inishmore, Aran Islands, County Galway, to cater for the needs of the local community and a growing tourism industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1383/97]

The Taoiseach

A total of £158,000 was made available to upgrade the pier at Kilronan, Inishmore in 1994 by the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht. A total of £4.7 million has been expended on substantial pier developments on the other Aran Islands of Inis Meáin and Inis Oírr by that Department also. My colleague the Minister, Deputy Higgins will shortly open both these piers.

In response to a proposal from the Islands Committee of Galway County Council, I allocated £20,000 in 1996 for a feasibility study which will identify further improvement works required at Kilronan pier. This study was selected by the Council's Islands Committee as a priority access project.

In addition, in accordance with the recommendations of the report of the interdepartmental co-ordinating committee on island development each relevant local authority, in consultation with their island committee, has been asked to draw up a priority programme of infrastructural works for its islands.

A sum of £1 million has been made available in 1997 for priority infrastructural projects. This is in addition to the local authorities' own budgets for the development of infrastructure on their islands. The allocation of the funding will be made following an assessment of each project by the interdepartmental co-ordinating committee, with the assistance of the Department of the Environment.

Galway County Council has already prepared a report on the infrastructural needs of its islands, including Inishmore, and a preliminary assessment of this is currently being carried out. As soon as a priority list of projects, as agreed by Galway County Council's islands committee is available, the allocation of funding will then be considered.