Island Communities

Tuesday, 24 March 2015

Questions (1008)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

1008. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding that will be made available in 2015 to development companies on non-Gaeltacht islands; the number of islands covered and the number of companies involved; the names of the islands; the decrease in funding on a annual basis, compared to 2014; the amount of money transferred from the vote of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to her Department for the period 1 April 2015 to 31 December 2015; her views on whether the companies can operate successfully with significantly less funding this year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11784/15]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Funding of €300,000 for community development purposes on the non-Gaeltacht islands is to be transferred from the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government to my Department for the period from 1 April 2015 to 31 December 2015. This is additional to the amount of €100,000 expended by that Department in the period 1 January 2015 to 31 March 2015. I understand that this funding relates to 9 non-Gaeltacht islands (i.e. Bere, Sherkin, Heir, Whiddy, Long and Dursey in Co. Cork, Inishbofin in Co. Galway, Inishturk and Clare in Co. Mayo) and that there are 5 organisations involved. I understand that, under the Local Community Development Programme, these islands received a total amount of €527,272 from the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government in 2014.

The funding from my Department will assist with the development and delivery of services for these island communities. My Department will seek to enhance this delivery into the future through engagement with the communities on the non-Gaeltacht islands. I am confident that the organisations will be able to operate successfully with the level of funding provided.