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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 7 Feb 2002

Vol. 548 No. 1

Written Answers. - Offshore Islands.

Dinny McGinley

Question:

123 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the incentives which are available for island people who wish to develop facilities such as tourist amenities on their islands; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4023/02]

While there are no direct incentives available from my Department to develop facilities such as tourist amenities on the islands, my Department has, since 1997, invested in the region of €23 million in the improvement of island infrastructure and transport services. While this investment is aimed primarily at improving the living conditions of island dwellers, it has also helped to improve the climate for economic development on the islands including the development of the tourism industry. Among the types of projects which have been grant aided since 1997 are:

–almost €1.9m to provide-improve electricity supply on 18 offshore islands;

–over €2.7m spent on works on piers serving six islands off the Cork coast;

–€1.27m to construct a new bridge to Inishnee in County Galway;

–€290,000 to set up a waste recycling scheme on the Aran Islands;

–a grant of €1.84m approved for Mayo County Council to provide a cable car between the mainland and Inishbiggle at Bullsmouth;

–almost €3.5m to carry out major improvement works on the harbour facilities at Léab Gharbh on Arranmore Island and at Machaire Rabhartaigh on the mainland serving Tory Island and Inishbofin; and

–€930,000 for the construction of a sea wall on Tory Island.

One of the priorities for islanders is the improvement of island access through the improvement of ferry and air services. With this in mind my Department now subsidises 16 different services providing transport to 12 islands. This compares to only four islands which were served by State assisted services in 1997. The services currently assisted include:

–a passenger and freight ferry service from Galway to the Aran Islands;

–a daily passenger ferry service between Inis Mór, Árainn and Ros a'Mhíl, and Inis Meáin and Inis Oírr and Ros a'Mhíl;

–ferry services between Inishbofin, Inishturk and Clare Island and the mainland;

–a ferry service between Cape Clear Island and the mainland;

–ferry services between Sherkin, Whiddy, Bere, Long and Heir Islands and the mainland;
–ferry services between Tory and Arranmore Islands and the mainland; and
–an air service between the Aran Islands and the mainland.
I should also point out to the Deputy that Údarás na Gaeltachta's strategic approach to the development of tourism in the Gaeltacht, which includes the Gaeltacht islands, is outlined in pages 30 to 35 of its 2000 annual report which was published recently and that it has assisted projects on various islands in the form of grant aid and shares. Assistance is also normally available from the Údarás for other projects which have a tourism aspect such as arts and crafts projects, heritage centres etc.
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