Éamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:8 D'fhiafraigh Éamon Ó Cuív den Taoiseach an bhfuil aon phlean cuimsitheach réitithe ag a Roinn, maidir le cúrsaí farantóireachta chuig na hOileáin Mhara; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [22040/96]
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cursaí Farantóireacht chuig na hÓileáin.
Séamus Hughes
Ceist:9 Mr. Hughes asked the Taoiseach whether any of the £1 million provided to improve access to off-shore islands will be given for the subsidisation of ferry services in the winter period in 1996 to non-Gaeltacht islands. [21633/96]
Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 8 agus 9 le chéile.
Aithníonn Tuarascáil an Choiste Idir-Ranna um Fhorbairt Óileán gurb é teacht i dtír an cheist is tábhachtaí ar fad maidir leis na hoileáin amach ón gcósta.
Tá milliún punt curtha ar fáil i mbliana ag an Rialtas chun aghaidh a thabhairt ar an bhfadhb seo. Tá córas úr i bhfeidhm anois. Déanann Coistí Oileánda na nÚdarás Aitiúil an chéad roghnú agus cuirtear na hoibreacha in ord tosaíochta. Déanann an Coiste Idir-Ranna moltaí maidir le maoiniú bunaithe ar an liosta seo.
Maidir le seirbhísí farantóireachta, tá freagracht leagtha anois ormsa maidir le dhá chonradh farantóireachta go hÓileáin Árann, seirbhís paisinéirí/lasta ó Chathair na Gaillimhe agus seirbhís paisinéirí ó Ros a'Mhíl. Tá athbhreithniú á dhéanamhn agam ar an dá chonradh agus beidh mé ag dul i gcomhairle leis na páirtithe cuí, an Coiste Idir-Ranna Comhordaithe um Fhorbairt Oileán ina measc. Más léir tar éis an athbhreithnithe go bhfuil easnaimh sna seirbhísí seo, gníomhóidh mé sa chás i 1997.
Will the Minister agree there is no question of local authorities providing running cost subsidies for ferry boats? Will he say when it is intended to provide a running cost subsidy to ferry boats servicing non-Gaeltacht islands?
The priority issue for 1996 was access and when all such projects were dealt with it was intended to deal with other matters. No application was made by the island committees for additional aid to non-Gaeltacht island ferries, but that matter will receive attention.
Will the Minister agree the islands committee was of the clear understanding that the £1 million envelope was for once-off projects and that an application for ongoing finance for the subsidisation of ferry services would not have been acceptable to the Department under this scheme? Will he agree there is an obligation on the Department to provide subsidies for the ferry service to the islands equivalent to that enjoyed by the mainland in terms of bus and rail services? To try to push the matter onto the county council is avoiding the issue of a basic human right for people living on non-Gaeltacht islands.
The islands committee and everybody living on the islands accepts the report which states that access would be a priority. There have been teething problems in the first year in regard to capital projects. I do not want to be painted as the nigger in the woodpile holding up matters because that is not the case. Those who are holding up the projects are the county councillors who have their own pitches and are looking after themselves. The issue is whether Galway and Mayo county councillors agree the islanders' proposals.
I visited the islands and met the people there and when I came back I drew up a list. When these matters came before the islands committee each council was asked to put forward proposals. In some cases reports have been returned and proposals accepted, but it was accepted that the priority in the first year was to provide safe access. Deputy Ó Cuív is implying that county councillors were not aware that funds were available, but from listening to reports about this matter on the airwaves, Galway and Mayo county councils believed they did not receive enough money, but everybody knew that all the money has not been spent. Having examined all the issues, we are now prepared to consider access to non-Gaeltacht islands and if proposals are not agreed in 1996 they will be considered in 1997.