Jim O'Keeffe
Question:48 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his proposals for the development of air access to inhabited islands. [19140/02]
Other Questions. - Offshore Islands.
One of the core policy goals of my Department is the promotion of the sustainable development of the populated offshore islands and the provision of adequate levels of services to islands. In order to achieve this goal, the Department has as one of its objectives the facilitation of an adequate all year round level of access to transport for island communities. Assistance is provided by the Department to promote the development of island infrastructure and access facilities.
Since the 1970s air services to the Aran Islands have been provided by Aer Árann to ensure essential services to the island communities, taking into account their unique access problems on Ireland's periphery and the need to promote economic growth, including tourism. Following a review, which included consultation between officials of my Department and the Department of Public Enterprise, of the financial implications of ensuring continuity of these air services, it was concluded that the appropriate way to guarantee these services in the future and to comply with the relevant EU requirements was by the imposition of a public service obligation as provided for under Council Regulation 2408/92. Government approval was subsequently received to proceed with the introduction of a PSO in respect of a daily service from Galway-Minna to the Aran Islands and this service commenced in February of this year.
My Department also refunds Údarás na Gaeltachta the cost incurred in providing an emergency helicopter service to Tory Island, County Donegal. This service is provided in conjunction with the North-Western Health Board on a fortnightly basis during the winter months for the use of the island community and to enable the health board to transport medical personnel to the island. I understand that the health board also transports their personnel to the island by helicopter during the summer months.
In addition, my Department is from time to time contacted by other island communities requesting the services of an Air Corps helicopter for emergency flights mainly during inclement weather conditions. In these cases my officials approach the Department of Defence on behalf of the islanders in an effort to organise these flights. Where possible, the Air Corps will agree to provide a service. However, on some occasions they are not in a position to do so for operational reasons.
The Deputy will be aware that there is a commitment in the programme for Government to provide new fixed wing air services to both Inishboffin, County Galway and Tory Island, County Donegal. During my term as Minister of State with responsibility for the Gaeltacht and the islands, I announced my intention to carry out a comprehensive study on the proposed development and day to day management of airstrips and associated air services on a number of offshore islands. The islands concerned were the Aran Islands and Inishboffin, County Galway, Inishturk and Clare Island, County Mayo and Tory Island, County Donegal. This study was carried out by the air transport group at Cranfield University. The recommendations, which I am now examining, were essential in order to inform my Department of how best to go about providing air services to the offshore islands.
At that time I also requested Údarás na Gaeltachta, independently of the study, to proceed with the planning of airstrips on Inishboffin, Inishturk, Clare Island and Tory Island. Much progress has been made by an tÚdarás in this regard including the obtaining of planning permission for airstrips on Inishboffin and at Cleggan on the mainland to serve Inishboffin. I intend to continue with this work on developing island air services.
Has the Government decided to cancel the new helicopters which were to facilitate the rescue of islanders and others who might be in danger? Will this not have a major impact on the access to air travel of people who may be badly hit by sickness, death or other emergencies? Is the Minister satisfied, given the new cutbacks, that the proposals in the programme for Government will be delivered and when will that happen?
The provision of emergency air services is a matter for the Departments of the Communications, the Marine and Natural Resources and Defence. In relation to helicopters, I was talking about the provision of relief services. The emergency services are available to everybody around the country as needed. In winter weather there can be problems on some of the islands. Tory, Clare, Inishturk and Inishboffin islands are the most likely to be affected. There might be a week when boats cannot get in and out and they run short of food. These are not emergency but humanitarian missions. In these cases the helicopters have always been made available within reason. I want to separate emergency services from these missions to provide basic necessities and get people on and off the islands. There have been situations, such as a few years ago, when people could not get back to work after Christmas because they would miss flights. They had come home to the islands for Christmas and had obligations to return. It was not an emergency situation. The helicopters brought in food, milk and necessities as well as bringing people in and out as required.
What about the financial implications?
Budgetary matters will be discussed. From the time I became a Minister of State in the Department I did certain things in particular. We have already brought a passenger service to virtually every island around the coast of any significant population, even to those of very small populations of 15 or 20 people. We also introduced for the first time regular, subsidised passenger services in non-Gaeltacht islands and gave them parity of esteem. We also introduced a more uniform system. Prior to this only the three Aran islands had air services plus the helicopter service from Donegal. There are now proposals for fixed wing services, starting with Inishboffin for operational reasons as it is the easiest to provide for because the aeroplanes are already in Connemara. We are examining Tory and Clare islands. There will be major topographical difficulties in Inishturk because it is a very hilly island. These developments will proceed quickly. Since it is in the air, even if it is on a cable, we are trying to resolve the CPO problems in County Mayo. There is a legal issue which might involve proceedings. However, we are committed to flying them across in the cable car to Inishbiggle.