Thomas Pringle
Question:730. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will change the criteria for funding for some of the smaller islands on the Donegal coast (details supplied). [42747/23]
View answerTuesday, 3 October 2023
Questions (730)
Written answers
The new national islands policy, Our Living Islands, which I launched recently, recognises that good transport services and a developed infrastructure are important prerequisites for maintaining island populations. My Department’s aim is to seek to meet these requirements through current and capital investment.
The policy is focused on islands that are cut off daily from the mainland by the tide, are not connected (to the mainland) by a bridge or causeway, are not in private ownership, and have a permanent year round population.
My Department has a dedicated annual capital allocation for the islands. This includes provision for a minor capital works programme which provides co-funding to encourage Local Authorities to undertake smaller infrastructure works on the islands. Works undertaken include, but are not limited to, repairs to piers and roads (subject to roads being under charge of the Local Authority), maintenance or construction of slipways, piers and other public infrastructure.
Under this minor works programme, my Department provides the relevant Local Authorities with 90% of the funding required for works. Priority is given to works on islands that have a permanent year round population. Local Authorities are not precluded from applying for funding for works on islands referred to by the Deputy, which may be considered subject to availability of resources. In such cases, officials from the relevant Local Authority should engage directly with officials in my Department's Islands Unit.