Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 February 2023
5. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 401 of 19 January 2023, the date on which the new policy for the islands will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9410/23]
View answerAr ais linn arís go dtí polasaí na n-oileán. Cá bhfuil sé? Táimid ag fanacht ó 2019 i leith. Cuireadh grúpa oibre tras-rannach le chéile i 2019; táimid anois i 2023. Cá bhfuil an polasaí? Thug an Aire geallúintí dom. The Minister gave promises. I know her heart is in this. She has shown a commitment to the islands and has visited them. Where is the policy for the islands? It is the most basic request to have a policy for the islands, followed by a work programme and legislation.
Ar ais linn arís. As the Deputy will be aware, the Government is committed to publishing an islands policy in line with the programme for Government commitment and the commitments made in Our Rural Future. I received a draft copy of the policy before Christmas. While it is clear that a lot of work has been done in getting the draft policy to this point, I am of the view that more work is needed to firm up the text and, more importantly, the actions. I have committed to publishing an action plan along with the policy, as I did with the rural development policy, Our Rural Future. We can see the difference that is making throughout the country in transforming our rural communities, towns and villages. I want to make sure we do the same thing for our islands.
I thank the Minister. I welcome her dedication and the fact that she wants an action plan. She will forgive my cynicism and, more importantly, that of the islanders who have waited a long time. We have had interdepartmental reports previously. That was what led me to table a motion in respect of this matter before the Dáil, which was accepted by a majority in 2019. It is very serious that the Minister is not happy with what she has been given. When the Minister said it was not strong enough, is she referring to the actual plan or the action plan, or is it the policy she is not happy with? Perhaps she will clarify that. Will she clarify what she is unhappy with? Is the plan not specific enough?
As it happens, by default I saw a programme last night, which is most unusual for me, on TG4 about a return to the islands. It included Arranmore in County Donegal and Aran off the coast of Galway. Despite all the obstacles the islands face, they are still attracting people back. We want Government policy, action and legislation to underpin that.
I thank the Deputy. In fairness, she has asked me about this islands policy a great deal. There has been extensive consultation on it. We have the policy. Policy is fine but we need the actions. I want to hold other Departments to account. I do not want fancy, flowery language. I want time-bound actions so that when Departments state they will do something, they will do it. From my experience, the only way to keep other Departments toes to the fire is to get it down in writing. I will meet with Ministers in the various Departments; that is my plan. My officials have met with officials from other Departments. I just want to make sure we tie them down. When they say they will do it, I want to know when they will do it. We want a delivery date on it.
In fairness, the Deputy will know that Our Rural Future is a policy that includes actions to be taken every year. It is working, and I am holding Departments to account. As the Deputy said, I have shown my commitment to the islands. I was the first Minister for Social Protection, for many years, to increase the islands allowance in my first budget in the Department. There was a long-running issue in County Donegal regarding the roads on the islands, which were in terrible repair. I worked with the island communities and Donegal County Council, and the roads on some of the islands there have been transformed. If the Deputy gets a chance she should travel to the lighthouse on Arranmore, and ask the community the difference that has made to them.
The problem, and the reason I tabled the motion, as did people before me, is the crisis in respect of the islands' population. Of the 30 islands, eight are in Gaeltacht areas and they contain 70% of the population. On so many levels, including Irish language sustainability, this is about the sustainability of the islands, whether their populations speak Irish or English. That is why we put the focus of the Government on this. It has taken many years.
Can the Minister not publish the policy? If she cannot publish it now because she is waiting for the action plan, will she give us a date for that? It is very worrying to hear the phrase "will be finalised as soon as possible" being used by the Minister. I have a library of answers on this matter and that is the weakest one, apart from the fact the Minister said she is not happy, which is a clear message, and wants stronger action. I welcome that but we have not even got to the point of underpinning the policy with legislation, which has been done in Scotland, where its islands population has increased because it has a policy, an action plan and legislation.
I have the policy but I need the actions. A number of Departments are critical in this regard. We all know them. I met representatives from Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann. There are issues around planning, sewerage, water, education and health. We need more nurses in particular and we need more GPs, primary care services and services for older people. There are many issues. I have been doing a lot through my Department. On Clare Island, for example, we are trialling a new initiative in areas such as e-health. We are doing other things on other islands. I am trying to do the best I can in my Department. As part of this new policy, I want other Ministers to do the same. I want to use this policy to hold other Departments to account for their actions on the islands, whether these relate to housing, education or health services. It has to be a whole-of-government policy.
This will be the first such policy in 26 years.
The Deputy asked me for a timeline. I hope to have this well done in quarter 2 or earlier. I give her my word on this. This is a priority for me. I want it delivered within, let us say, the next two months.
