asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware of the great need for proper landing and harbour facilities at the islands of Inishmaan and Inisheere, Aran, County Galway, so that a priest and doctor can land in severe weather conditions; and what action he proposes to take to provide these facilities.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Aran Islands Landing Facilities.
16.
Apart from the question of providing landing facilities for fishing boats at Claí Gainmhe, Inishmaan, Aran which was the subject of a question by the Deputy on 14th December 1965, I am not aware of any proposals for provision of improved landing facilities at Inishmaan or Inisheere. I am advised that to provide such facilities at these islands suitable for use in severe weather conditions would be a major engineering undertaking whose cost would almost certainly be prohibitive.
Is the Minister aware that the economy of these islands is built up on tourism and as it is the intention of the Government to save the west, would he not consider that these people should not be isolated completely and that it is about time something should be done? Will the Minister investigate the possibility of having something done and seeing that these people will be able to get a priest or doctor if the necessity arises?
There are landing facilities at Inishmaan and Inisheere and moneys have been spent on them to keep them in good condition for ordinary use but as far as the suggestion goes to provide facilities to withstand extraordinary weather conditions rather than to provide for tourists, I think that it is rather far-fetched.
It is not far-fetched. I can assure the Minister that even during the summer you can have weather conditions when you cannot make the boat crossing and people will not go to the island if they feel they cannot get off again. I think the Minister will agree that the islanders should be entitled to these facilities or does he wish to abandon them completely?
There is no such suggestion. I have told the Deputy that money was recently provided to give good landing facilities.
The question was concerned with the protection of landing facilities and I have not got a reply to that.
Would the Minister state whether any estimate has been made of the cost of the proposal suggested by Deputy Coogan so that we could know what figure is involved?
I have no estimate here.
Has the Deputy any objection to the people of Aran getting facilities?