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;