Vol. 472 No. 4
78 Mr. Molloy asked the Taoiseach whether a grant of £5,000 will be made available in 1996 for a feasibility study on a proposal from Galway County Council Islands Committee for the provision of an aeroplane landing strip at Inishbofin, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23508/96]
As the Deputy will be aware, on foot of the report of the interdepartmental co-ordinating committee on island development, new mechanisms have been established to deal with the development of access and related infrastructural work on the offshore islands, which was identified as a priority issue and towards which the Government made available an additional £1 million this year. Island access projects are selected and prioritised by the islands committees of the relevant local authorities. These projects are then assessed by the interdepartmental co-ordinating committee and recommendations regarding funding subsequently made. Funding in respect of each priority access project is allocated to the relevant local authorities in accordance with normal Government accounting requirements.
While I am supportive of the proposal for an examination of the potential for an airstrip at Inishbofin, certain administrative procedures must be undertaken initially. When these are completed, I hope to be in a position to announce the allocation of funding to this project.
