Vol. 519 No. 5
273 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if she will give the details of the remit and contract in respect of the current ferry operation, subsidised by her Department, to Clare Island, County Mayo; if she will indicate the annual breakdown of this contract; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14500/00]
In August 1999 I authorised my Department to enter into an agreement with the ferry company, O'Malley's Ferry Service of Strake, Clare Island, County Mayo to provide a scheduled passenger ferry service between Clare Island and the mainland for the period from 1 September 1999 to 31 August 2002. This service, which is provided using the vessel, Saltees Princess ensures a minimum of one return sailing three times per week, on Friday, Sunday and one other week day, except during the months of June, July and August when two return sailings on each of the above mentioned days are provided. In addition, a scheduled road transport service between Roonagh Pier on the mainland and Westport and Louisburg is also provided as part of the agreement.
Regarding the annual breakdown of this contract, as referred to in the Deputy's question, I assume the Deputy is referring to the level of annual subsidy paid to the ferry operator. I am not in a position to release this information due to its commercially sensitive nature.
274 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if she will supply a detailed breakdown of the boat subsidy of £140,000 received by a company (details supplied) in County Mayo in 1999; whether this is the total amount of both subsidy received or paid in 1999; if this figure includes the contract with a ferry operator to the amount of £27,500 which applied for the 38 week period from October 1998 to the end of June 1999; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14501/00]
The company referred to by the Deputy neither has in the past nor is currently receiving any boat subsidy from my Department.
