John Browne
Question:3 Mr. Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny) asked the Taoiseach the number of inhabited islands there are around the coast; the population of each in 1980; the number of inhabited islands, and the population of each in 2001. [10761/01]
Ceisteanna – Questions. - Offshore Islands.
The information requested by the Deputy is contained in the following statement. The data are taken from the 1981 and 1996 censuses. There were 79 inhabited islands in 1981, but the figure had fallen to 59 by 1996. The total island population in 1981 was 10,867, which had fallen to 9,280 by 1996, the most recent year for which figures are available.
Population of inhabited islands off the coast, 1981 and 1996
|
Year |
1981 |
1996 |
|
|
Number of inhabited islands |
79 |
59 |
|
|
Total island population |
10,869 |
9,280 |
|
|
Island |
|||
|
Clare County |
6 |
1 |
|
|
Coney |
2 |
0 |
|
|
Green |
1 |
0 |
|
|
Inishmore (or Deer) |
3 |
1 |
|
|
Cork County |
1,401 |
961 |
|
|
Ballycottin |
5 |
27 |
|
|
Bear |
252 |
212 |
|
|
Clear |
164 |
145 |
|
|
Dursey |
19 |
9 |
|
|
Fastnet Rock |
3 |
0 |
|
|
Garinish |
2 |
1 |
|
|
Haulbowline |
452 |
110 |
|
|
Inchydoney |
89 |
102 |
|
|
Inishbeg |
18 |
19 |
|
|
Inishodriscol (or Hare) |
35 |
16 |
|
|
Long |
38 |
9 |
|
|
Ringarogy |
69 |
76 |
|
|
Sherkin |
70 |
98 |
|
|
Spike |
130 |
103 |
|
|
The Bull |
1 |
0 |
|
|
Whiddy |
54 |
34 |
|
|
Donegal County |
1,171 |
898 |
|
|
Aran |
803 |
602 |
|
|
Aughnish |
7 |
3 |
|
|
Cruit |
83 |
70 |
|
|
Inishbofin |
46 |
24 |
|
|
Inishfree Upper |
11 |
15 |
|
|
Inishtrahull |
3 |
0 |
|
|
Island Roy |
10 |
15 |
|
|
Tory |
208 |
169 |
|
|
Dublin Co. Borough |
35 |
22 |
|
|
North Bull |
35 |
22 |
|
|
Fingal |
12 |
8 |
|
|
Lambay |
12 |
8 |
|
|
Galway County |
4,013 |
3,651 |
|
|
Annaghvaan |
79 |
104 |
|
|
Dinish |
3 |
0 |
|
|
Finish |
5 |
0 |
|
|
Furnace |
65 |
59 |
|
|
Gorumna |
1,120 |
1,057 |
|
|
Illaunamid |
3 |
0 |
|
|
Illaunmore |
6 |
1 |
|
|
Ichaghaun |
5 |
3 |
|
|
Inishbarra |
5 |
1 |
|
|
Inishbofin |
195 |
200 |
|
|
Inisheer |
239 |
274 |
|
|
Inisheltia |
3 |
0 |
|
|
Inisherk |
7 |
0 |
|
|
Inishlackan |
2 |
0 |
|
|
Inishmaan |
238 |
191 |
|
|
Inishmore |
891 |
838 |
|
|
Inishnee |
86 |
33 |
|
|
Inishtravin |
7 |
3 |
|
|
Inishturk |
7 |
0 |
|
|
Lettermore |
582 |
503 |
|
|
Lettermullan |
218 |
204 |
|
|
Mweenish |
188 |
150 |
|
|
Year |
1981 |
1996 |
|
|
Omey |
21 |
4 |
|
|
Rossroe |
31 |
23 |
|
|
Rusheennacholla |
6 |
3 |
|
|
Turbot |
1 |
0 |
|
|
Kerry County |
769 |
716 |
|
|
Beginish |
2 |
2 |
|
|
Carrig |
10 |
13 |
|
|
Dinish |
6 |
0 |
|
|
Skellig Rock Great |
3 |
4 |
|
|
Rossmore |
9 |
8 |
|
|
Tarbert |
18 |
13 |
|
|
Tearaght |
3 |
0 |
|
|
Valencia |
718 |
676 |
|
|
Mayo County |
3,443 |
3,012 |
|
|
Achill |
3,101 |
2,718 |
|
|
Clare |
127 |
136 |
|
|
Clynish |
4 |
5 |
|
|
Eagle |
3 |
0 |
|
|
Inishbiggle |
89 |
48 |
|
|
Inishcottle |
11 |
7 |
|
|
Inishgort |
3 |
2 |
|
|
Inishlyre |
10 |
7 |
|
|
Inishnakillew |
13 |
6 |
|
|
Inishturk |
76 |
83 |
|
|
Island More |
2 |
0 |
|
|
Roman |
4 |
0 |
|
|
Sligo County |
8 |
6 |
|
|
Dernish |
1 |
0 |
|
|
Inishmulclohy (or Concy Island) |
7 |
6 |
|
|
Wexford County |
11 |
5 |
|
|
Bannow |
8 |
5 |
|
|
Tuskar Rock |
3 |
0 |
Source: Census of Population.
Both the number of inhabited islands and the island population have dropped significantly in recent years. The Government and its predecessor gave responsibility for policies in relation to islands to a Government Department, but the figures indicate the policies have not been successful. Is the Minister of State happy that the policies being pursued can redress the drop in population that has been presented here?
The Minister of State is not responsible for policy. The question is purely statistical and the Minister is responsible for the statistics only.
The Minister of State responsible for the islands has helped to develop policy aimed at retaining the population levels of islands. Infrastructure has been put in place—
He does not agree with Government policy.
—and access has been improved as a result of European Union and State funding. The figures in the 2002 census will be interesting.
If this decline continues, Deputy Molloy will lose some votes.