Jim O'Keeffe
Question:152 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the new efforts he proposes to encourage economic activity on the islands. [8343/03]
Written Answers - Offshore Islands.
In recent years, this Government and its predecessors have been committed to revitalising the islands by improving the quality of life of island dwellers. This is being done through investment in island infrastructure and services such as ferry and air transport, electricity supply, health and education. Much progress has been made in the period since mid-1997 and the level of funding available to my Department for island development has risen from under €2.5 million in 1997 to almost €8.5 million this year. In 2003 alone, €6.129 million has been provided for essential physical infrastructure such as piers, roads and water supply schemes on the islands, with a further €2.35 million being provided for subsidised transport services thereto.
It is my considered view that proper access infrastructure and safe regular transport are prerequisites for the economic development of the islands. With this in mind, transport services to all the main islands have been significantly improved since 1997, together with the pier infrastructure serving the islands of Counties Donegal and Cork. In addition, my Department is about to embark on a major programme of investment in pier infrastructure serving the islands of Counties Mayo and Galway over the coming years. In tandem with this work, the next major challenge for my Department is to provide sustainable employment through the economic development of the islands. Údarás na Gaeltachta will have a vital role to play in this regard in encouraging sustainable economic development on the Gaeltacht islands, particularly in the context of the Irish language being a major resource for creating high-quality employment.
In addition to this, both myself and the Tánaiste, Deputy Mary Harney, are actively considering the introduction of an enterprise fund for the non-Gaeltacht Islands as a joint initiative between our two Departments. It is envisaged that this fund will help to assist entrepreneurs who wish to create valuable jobs in island settings where traditionally communities have had to depend on tourism and small scale farming and fishing to make a living for themselves. I am confident that this proposed initiative will be met with a positive reaction and, more importantly, will see a large uptake amongst island communities, thus strengthening their future economic viability.