I propose to take Questions Nos. 49 and 55 together.
As the Deputies will be aware, in April 2017 my Department undertook a public consultation process whereby it sought submissions from interested parties in relation to the future use of airstrips and surrounding sites in the ownership of the Department on Inishbofin and in Cleggan, County Galway.
Adverts were placed in the media with a deadline set for receipt of submissions of 19 May 2017. I understand that 113 submissions were received from members of the public, community organisations and other public bodies, all of which were then reviewed by my Department.
The various submissions received have been uploaded to my Department's website and are available for public view. My Department is currently exploring two of the proposals, one for the site at Cleggan and one for the site on Inishbofin.
With regard to the site at Cleggan, my Department is in discussions with the Irish Coast Guard with a view to utilising part of the site for the provision of a Coast Guard Station.
In the case of the site on Inishbofin, my Department is in discussions with the HSE with a view to the use of part of the site to locate a Health Care Centre for the island, a facility for which the island development company has been campaigning for some time.
Any such developments will need to be agreed with the relevant regulatory bodies and planning bodies having regard to the original purpose for which the sites were developed.
It is also important to point out that any development undertaken at this time will not prejudice the potential future use of the airstrips for the provision of air services to Inishbofin.
It is not my intention to publish a formal report with regard to the consultation process.
