Vol. 567 No. 5
107 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress to date on the proposed new air service to Tory Island, County Donegal and Inisbofin, County Galway; and the progress in the upgrading of the existing infrastructure at Inis Mór, Inis Meáin and Inis Orr, County Galway. [14483/03]
There is a commitment in An Agreed Programme for Government to provide new fixed wing air services to both Inishbofin, County Galway and Tory Island, County Donegal and to upgrade the existing infrastructure on the three Aran islands. During my term as Minister of State for the Gaeltacht and the Islands, I decided 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, including Inishbofin, County Galway and Tory Island, County Donegal. This study, carried out by the air transport group, Cranfield University was essential in order to inform my Department of how best to go about providing air services to the offshore islands.
I also requested Údarás na Gaeltachta, independently of that study, to proceed with the planning of airstrips on Inishbofin and Tory Island. Much progress has been made by an tÚdarás in this regard, including the obtaining of planning permission for an airstrip on Inishbofin
It is my intention to press ahead with this work with a view to fulfilling the commitment in An Agreed Programme for Government. With regard to the upgrading of the Aran islands infrastructure, the Irish Aviation Authority has drawn up a list of works in respect of these three airstrips in order to bring them up to an acceptable standard. I understand that Údarás na Gaeltachta, which owns these facilities and oversees their operation, has set aside a portion of its 2003 financial allocation for this purpose.
