I am pleased that my Department will be in a position to deliver a revised funding approach towards community development on the non-Gaeltacht islands with effect from 1 April 2015. A sum of €300,000 will be made available by 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. A sum of €400,000 is being made available to my Department for 2016.
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 there will not be any significant diminution in the level of service provided on these islands.