asked the Minister for the Gaeltacht if he will state the method adopted for the allocation of the new vessel for the Cape Clear ferry service, why elucidation of the conditions applicable was not given to interested persons; why copies of the application form were not made available at the Post Office; what were the full terms of the application form; and why reductions in fares and freight rates were not made.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cape Clear Ferry Service.
asked the Minister for the Gaeltacht if he will state in relation to the Cape Clear ferry service (a) on what basis it was decided to allocate the new vessel, (b) why application forms were not made available to intending applicants at the meeting called in connection with the allocation, (c) why the conditions of application were not explained to interested parties, and (d) why fares and freight rates were not reduced.
Le cead an Cheann Comhairle tá beartaithe agam Ceisteanna Uimhir 24 agus Uimhir 25 a thógaint le chéile.
Is é bhi beartaithe ar dtúis nach bhfoilseofai aon fhógra ag lorg iarratasóiri a bheadh sásta Seirbhís Tarchuir Oileán Chléire d'oibriú faoi chonradh ach go ndáilfí an bád nua ar an té a raibh an tseirbhís á hoibriú go sásúil aige ar feadh seacht mblian déag beagnach.
De dhroim comhráití leis an Sagart Óg atá ar an oileán socraíodh go loirgeofaí iarrataisí trí fhógra sna nuachtáin, ó dhaoine cuí-cháilithe a raibh cónaí orthu ar an oileán. Cuireadh fógra isteach sna nuachtáin áitiúla an 13ú lá agus 17ú lá de Bhealtaine á rá go bhféadfaí foirmeacha iarratais agus eolas iomlán d'fháil ach iad a lorg ón Roinn. Ina theannta sin, d'fhonn deimhin a dhéanamh de nach bhfágfaí aon duine cáilithe de mhuintir an oileáin gan fios fátha an scéil, socraiodh go gcuirfí oifigeach de chuid na Roinne chun an oileáin chun foirmeacha iarratais a thabhairt amach do na daoine a raibh suim acu sa scéal.
Cuireadh in iúl roimh ré don tSagart Óg atá ar an oileán go raibh an tOifigeach sin chun an chuaird sin a thabhairt—agus thionóil an Sagart Óg cruinniú Poiblí de mhuintir an oileáin sa Teach Scoile—cruinniú a raibh sé féin i gceannas air. Le linn an chruinnithe sin léigh Oifigeach na Roinne seo amach gach ní dá raibh sa bhfoirm iarratais agus sa mheabhrán miniúcháin a ghaibh leis agus d'fhreagair sé roint ceisteanna a cuireadh chuige. Ina dhiaidh sin thug sé cuireadh d'éinne a raibh fonn air iarratas a chur isteach teacht ar aghaidh le go dtabharfaí foirm iarratais dhó. Cé gur thug sé an cuireadh sin trí huaire i ndiaidh a chéile nior iarr éinne cóip den fhoirm.
Tugadh léargas iomlán ar na coinníollacha a ghabhas leis an tseirbhís sa mheabhrán miniúcháin a ghaibh leis an bhfoirm iarratais agus a léigheadh amach don chruinniú fé mar adúras cheana. Séard a bhí sa bhfoirm iarratais féin ná iarratas foirmeálta ag lorg ceapacháin chun an tseirbhís do rith faoi chonradh. Bhí áit ann le haghaidh ainm agus seoladh an iarratasóra, agus le haghaidh sonraí i dtaobh cáilíochtaí mairnéalachta agus eolas ar an nGaeilge.
Bhí comhchaint ann leis an Sagart Óg maidir leis na táillí uasta agus na rátaí uasta lasta a ceadófaí, agus tar éis na comhchainte sin do cinneadh nárbh inmhianuithe ná nár ghá aon athrú bunúsach a dhéanamh ar na rátaí a bhí á n-éileamh le roinnt bhlian anuas faoin tsean-sheirbhís.
Would the Minister kindly read the reply in English?
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 25 together.
It was originally intended not to advertise for applicants for the operation under contract of the Cape Clear ferry service but to allocate the new vessel to the man who had been operating the service satisfactorily for a period of almost 17 years.
Following discussions with the curate of the island it was decided to invite applications by Press advertisement from suitably qualified persons living on the island. An advertisement was inserted in the local Press on 13th and 17th May stating that application forms and full information could be obtained on request from the Department. Furthermore, in order to ensure that no qualified person on the island would be left unaware of the position, it was arranged that an officer of the Department would be sent to the island to distribute application forms to interested parties.
The curate on the island was notified of the intended visit of the officer in question and he arranged a public meeting of the islanders in the local school at which he himself presided. At this meeting the officer read out all that was contained in the application form and explanatory memorandum which accompanied it and answered a number of questions put to him. He then invited any parties interested in applying to come forward for an application form, but although he repeated this invitation a second and a third time nobody applied.
The conditions attached to the service were fully elucidated in the explanatory memorandum which accompanied the application form and which, as has been stated, was read to the meeting. The application form itself consisted of a formal request for appointment to operate the ferry service on contract. Space was provided for the applicant's name and address, nautical qualifications and knowledge of the Irish language.
The question of the maximum fares and freight rates which would be approved by me was discussed with the curate and following this discussion it was decided that it was neither desirable nor necessary to make any material change in the rates which were being charged under the old service for some years past.
Is the person appointed on this service now fully qualified both from the nautical point of view and the point of view of his knowledge of the Irish language?
The person who is appointed to this service is fully qualified from the nautical point of view and was passed by the Department of Industry and Commerce. He is the man who has operated this service for about 17 years past. I understand from my officers that while he has some Irish he is not good at Irish. The crew employed on the boat are all qualified in Irish. I might add that the person who has this boat is the only applicant offering to operate this service.
Is the Minister satisfied that the schedule of charges which were to operate on the service has been adhered to? Have there not been complaints that excessive charges have been made and is the Minister satisfied in relation to the wages paid to the crew on the boat?
I am so satisfied. The charges laid down were fully discussed and were agreed by the parties concerned to be fair and reasonable. There was an objection to the proposed charge for tourists to the island using this boat, with whom I am not concerned. However I am not aware of any such complaints.
The Minister says he is unconcerned in relation to the charge for tourists visiting the island. Surely as Minister for the Gaeltacht it is a serious consideration in his Department?
I think I should be fundamentally concerned with the people of the island, not with the tourists, but I am sure the tourists will be able to pay the couple of shillings it takes to go in and out of the island.
Since the bus fares went up, you might as well put up the boat fares as well.