asked the Taoiseach if the Government recognise the role of Comhdháil na nOileán as an organisation representing the inhabitants of our off-shore islands and the comhdháil's aims for the development of the islands through the provision of the necessary level of services, facilities and amenities; and if he will give a direction to all Government Departments, State agencies and semi-State bodies to have due regard to these aims in all aspects of their administration.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Offshore Island Development.
1.
The Government recognise the useful role that Comhdháil na nOileán and similar bodies can play in promoting the development and wellbeing of island communities around our coast. Comhdháil na nOileán have already been in contact with a number of Ministers, Departments and State agencies on matters related to the development needs of island communities.
The comhdháil have also recently been in correspondence with me on their aims and objectives and I am drawing the attention of my colleagues in Government to this correspondence and to the comhdháil's submissions to me and I am requesting them to take account of these submissions in the formulation and administration of Government policies which affect the development of island communities around our coast. The Deputy will be aware that Departments and State agencies have already done much to help island communities and there is a recognition of the special problems and difficulties which they face.
I wish to express my appreciation of the Taoiseach's oncoming attitude in this matter. Might I ask if he would agree that persons who wish to continue to reside on one of our offshore islands are entitled to a reasonable and satisfactory level of services, in other words, that the State fully recognises the right of people to continue to live on these islands if they so wish and that, as residents, they are entitled, within limits, to the same level of services, facilities and amenities as people who live on the mainland? If the Taoiseach agrees with that general principle, would he take whatever action is possible to make sure that that fundamental principle is understood, acknowledged and, in so far as is possible, implemented by Government Departments and State-sponsored bodies in particular?
Does that include Inishvickillaune?
I am talking about all-the-year-round residents. I am quite capable of looking after myself.
I would agree with the Deputy that while there are necessary limits to the extent to which State spending could be applied in individual cases to enable a relatively small number of people to remain on an island, priority should be given to encouraging people to remain and there should be a willingness to go beyond the normal in providing State services in these cases.
Would the Taoiseach accept that, apart from anything else, it would be administratively very convenient if the comhdháil were given something in the nature of a consultative status by Government Departments and bodies generally in so far as most of the problems are common to all the islands and most of the amenities and facilities required are again common to all the islands? In that respect the comhdháil could have a very helpful and constructive role to play in advising and assisting Government Departments and agencies in carrying out the sort of general directive principle which the Taoiseach and I both agree is desirable.
Of course, the problems are not solely ones for Government Departments and agencies. Local authorities are also involved. The Government do recognise the useful role that the comhdháil can play in promoting the development of islands off our coast. The comhdháil have been in existence for a relatively short period, since September 1984. The most effective way in which they could operate to achieve their aims and objectives would be to work closely with the people who have been democratically elected to represent island communities in local authorities and Údarás na Gaeltachta and the Houses of the Oireachtas. I am sure there would be an openness to representation from them in the different areas, including local authorities, who may have functions to perform in relation to particular islands.
Finally, would the Taoiseach agree, that while, of course, the role of the public representative is paramount, each public representative in the normal course of events would be making a special case of representation on behalf of the particular situation in his or her constituency, but the comhdháil would have experience of common problems and, therefore, would be able to supplement in a very constructive way the role of the individual public representative?
Yes, but obviously it would not replace it. I am sure they would wish to work with and through the elected representatives and that the various agencies, including the local authorities, would be happy to work with them.
Would the Taoiseach accept that the biggest difficulty confronting the communities residing on our off-shore islands is communication, first of all, the difficulty of travelling and the cost of travelling? In view of the special difficulties they have over and above any other group in the country, would he nominate one Minister or Minister of State with special responsibility for island affairs to whom these island communities could make their representations? It has proved very difficult and costly for them to have to travel to different Departments — that is one of the biggest difficulties — whereas if there was one Government Department with special responsibility to look after their interests they would not have to hop from Roinn na Gaeltachta to Industry and Commerce, Tourism, Communications and to all the different Departments which is really causing these island communities a lot of expense and difficulty. They feel if there was one Minister with some special responsibility for taking care of their needs they could go to him direct.
The Deputy's long experience as a Minister will have led him to understand and appreciate fully that the responsibility for the different activities and the different services lies with individual Government Departments. There is no way in which you could allocate ministerial responsibility for all these services whether they be communications, agriculture, transport, energy and the various things the Deputy mentioned to one Department because those functions lie essentially and necessarily with individual Departments. Given that, if there is any way we can facilitate these communities in making representations by co-ordinating the arrangments for representations when they have to make these difficult journeys we shall certainly try to do so.
Surely the Taoiseach will accept that the Central Government Committee in the Department of Finance look after certain aspects of that work and if he could appoint some co-ordinator at Government level it would overcome this major difficulty for the islanders?
The Central Government Committee in the Department of Finance deals with some of the islands, others may come more under the framework of Udarás na Gaeltachta. Those two bodies between them cover a number of the aspects the Deputy is talking about. When they are dealing with specific requirements relating to particular Departments there is no way you can shortcircuit communication with those Departments. We can certainly try to facilitate them.