P. J. Sheehan
Question:17 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands if she has drafted a comprehensive development plan for the islands; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23721/99]
Written Answers. - Islands Plan.
Responsibility for the offshore islands was assigned to my Department in July 1997. Since then my Department has highlighted its commitment to the development of the islands and island life and in particular sought to provide the islanders with adequate levels of services by funding numerous infrastructural projects.
Having visited most of the inhabited offshore islands and having met with the island communi ties and their representatives, I decided at the outset that one of the main priorities would be the provision of a minimum level of secure transport between the islands and the mainland. An analysis of the access requirements was carried out by my Department together with an examination of the landing facilities both on the islands and the mainland.
As a result during 1998, I sanctioned £1.7 million for works on piers serving five of the islands off the Cork coast, with work on those piers commencing in 1998 and expected to be completed in 1999. Also in 1998, I allocated a sum of £0.696 million to current projects, including the provision and improvement of ferry services to the islands. This funding enabled my Department to improve conditions for the islanders with the funding assisting the passenger and freight service from Galway and Ros a'Mhíl to the Aran Islands as well as the provision of a ferry service between Inishbofin, Inishturk and Clare Island and the mainland.
I have this year approved three year contracts for the provision of improved passenger ferry services to the Aran Islands and Inishbofin, County Galway and Inishturk and Clare Island, County Mayo with effect from 1 September 1999. Tenders were recently invited for the provision of – for the first time ever – subsidised ferry services for Whiddy, Sherkin and Bear Island off the County Cork coast. It is my intention to have these new services up and running on 1 January 2000.
Given the location of islands, it is more difficult for islanders to share in the economic and social life of the nation as a whole. It is important therefore that necessary infrastructural facilities be provided on the islands in order to sustain the island population and cater for visitors. In 1998 a sum of £2.34 million was spent on various infrastructural projects on the offshore islands and this facilitated a comprehensive programme of works that resulted in the improvement of many of the roads, piers and public services on the islands. Various projects were co-funded with local authorities – during 1998 I sanctioned a total of £1.3 million for this purpose. I also sanctioned a grant of £150,000 to enable three co-operatives on the Aran Islands to establish a refuse recycling scheme, work on which is expected to be completed in 2000.
A grant of some £540,000 was made to the Electricity Supply Board for the provision of additional electricity supply on eight offshore islands during the year. This amount covered half the cost of electrifying those islands with the balance being covered by the ESB. In addition a grant of £75,000 was paid to the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources in respect of the foreshore licences necessary for these works.
So far in 1999, I have allocated over £2.9 million for a further programme of works aimed at improving the physical infrastructure of the islands. Included again in this programme is fund ing for smaller projects such as roads, small piers and coastal protection on the islands together with funding for major works such as £825,000 for marine works at Leadbh Gharbh, Arranmore, County Donegal and a similar sum for the construction of a new bridge serving Inishnee, County Galway.
Many other Departments and State agencies have responsibilities in relation to various aspects of island development. Under my chairmanship the Interdepartmental Committee for the Islands, the Gaeltacht and the Irish Language with participation from all Departments, has played a vital role in the co-ordination of essential services for island communities at ground level and has ensured that Government policy is being implemented in a co-ordinated and effective manner. Regular bilateral meetings with Departments, health boards, local authorities, etc., ensure that services to the islands are enhanced and rationalised and that inadequacies with regard to the provision of services are remedied where possible.
Despite the large amount of work already undertaken much remains to be done. It is my intention, to continue to promote the sustainable development of the populated offshore islands and to improve the quality of island access and infrastructure in the coming years, including where necessary the provision of air services to a number of islands.