Vol. 568 No. 1
442 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the precise changes which have been agreed in respect of passenger services from Doolin, County Clare, to the Aran Islands and Inisheer in particular; if he has had discussions with the islanders or their representatives on the implications of such changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15310/03]
The provision of passenger ferry services to islands is a matter in the first instance for the Department for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. My Department is responsible for licensing and certifying vessels as safe for use on such services. Earlier this year the maritime safety directorate MSD of my Department reviewed its decision not to allow transhipment to continue in Doolin after 2002. Transhipment of passengers to a larger boat using small boats has traditionally been a feature of ferry operations in Doolin, where very low tides prevented the larger vessels berthing alongside the pier. The decision not to allow transhipment to continue was made for safety reasons and was flagged to the operators over many years. The Department informed the main operator from Doolin to the Aran Islands, Doolin Ferries, in June 1999 that transhipment arrangements would have to cease in 2002.
Following its review of transhipment arrangements the MSD has decided that it will consider applications for transhipment subject to a number of conditions: a safety case/submission to be made by operators to the MSD indicating the hazards, risks and the management of these; a marine surveyor from the MSD to witness a demonstration of the transhipment operation and to be satisfied in regard to safety arrangements; insurance cover for the transhipment operation is to be in place; transhipment to be considered for a trial pilot period, during which monthly reports on the operation of the scheme will be submitted to the MSD and unscheduled inspections will be carried out by MSD personnel of the transhipment operation.
Following the review the MSD has been in contact with known interested operators in the area. To date an application from one operator in the Doolin area for transhipment operations has been received. On foot of this proposal a temporary licence to 13 June 2003 has been granted to this operator pending further submissions and completion of the assessment of the operators proposals by the MSD.
