Vol. 506 No. 1
13 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the analysis, if any, she has carried out of the most recent census of population in respect of numbers of inhabitants on all offshore islands; if she has identified the numbers availing of social welfare payments; the number who are PAYE workers; and when she will introduce the islander allowance, as committed, for these workers. [14701/99]
35 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the issues being considered in the context of the special islander allowance which was promised by the present Government some years ago; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14401/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 35 together.
I have received from the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs an estimate of the number of island inhabitants in receipt of old age, retirement and widow's-widower's pensions. These figures are being examined in the context of the ongoing discussions between my Department, the Department of Finance and the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs regarding the possible introduction of a special islander allowance.
While I accept that this issue has been under consideration for some considerable time, it involves a number of broad policy issues that need careful consideration. As I stated in reply to a question on 29 April 1999 this is a budgetary issue. In this context, I will be pressing that a final decision on this matter one way or the other be made in the context of this year's budget.
Does the final sentence of the Minister's reply mean that there is no absolute commitment to an islander allowance? The Government's programme clearly makes a definite commitment to such an allowance. Does the phrase "one way or the other" mean it is possible that such an allowance will not be introduced?
Can the Minister give the approximate numbers of inhabitants of offshore islands? There seems to be some confusion in this regard. Will D506–F
the Minister state the figures he has received from the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs in respect of those in receipt of social welfare payments of various types living on offshore islands?
The commitment was given in a policy document which I wrote in opposition and which contained 28 points. I recently checked that document and the vast majority of issues raised in it are either being implemented or have been implemented. However, there are some major broad policy issues in relation to this issue which do not relate to the cost of introducing the allowance on the islands but relate to the possible precedent its introduction might create in relation to the rest of the country. Those issues are being discussed between the Departments. I am still keen on the concept, but valid points have been made in relation to the national effect. I make the case that people living on offshore islands are in a unique position and that the introduction of the allowance will not necessarily have a knock-on effect.
I have figures in relation to the number of old age pensioners, etc. on our islands, but rather than going through them in detail it is possible for us to make them available to the Deputy.
I must stress that the issue is the ring fencing of the proposal and not the cost per se.
Assuming that following discussions with the Departments agreement is reached that it should be introduced, will it apply to all offshore islands? The number of inhabitants on offshore islands according to the 1991 census was 9,564 while the figure in the 1996 census was 9,280, including four people who occupied the Skellig Rocks in Kerry according to the Central Statistics Office. Obviously, these four were archaeologists from the Minister's Department and I assume that while they are probably now back in Dublin they might retrospectively receive the islander allowance.
The Central Statistics Office considers islands with bridges to the mainland when completing the census. Bull Island in Dublin, for example, is not considered an island for the purposes of the census, as are Leitir Mór, Leitir Mulláin, Valentia and Achill. What we have defined as islands, in terms of the operation of the Department, are those areas cut off by the sea everyday. Therefore, we consider as islands inter-tidal islands and islands such as the Aran Islands which are continuously surrounded by sea. In rough terms we are talking about a total island population of 3,000 people. Some of these people are working and some are not and a social welfare allowance will only apply to those in receipt of social welfare.
Use of the term "islander allowance" seems to imply that it will be means tested. What is the maximum level of allowance envis aged and what were the criteria applied in arriving at that figure?
If introduced it would not be means tested as we spoke of an islander allowance in terms of a tax free allowance which is never means tested. In relation to social welfare the free fuel allowance, for example, is not necessarily means tested. As regards the level of allowance, figures were tossed around for the cost. However, cost has not been the main consideration.
The objective of the allowance is quite clear. The case made for it is twofold, namely, that islanders pay tax on, for example, the bringing of food to islands because they pay tax on transport, and because it is generally recognised that living on an island is quite considerably more expensive, particularly in accessing basic services such as hospitals, etc. The allowance was proposed to allow for this extra cost. There are people who argue whether there is an extra cost, but most reasonable people who examine the situation will consider that there is. The allowance would not be very big but would be a recognition of the position of islanders.
We will know we have tilted the balance too much when the island population begins to increase rapidly. Anybody who thinks island life is cheap or easy has not experienced it. There is a need to continually level the playing pitch and, as Minister of State, I have been doing my best in co-operation with my colleagues to achieve that aim of equality and parity of esteem.
If it is not means tested might it apply to the single resident of Inishvickillane?
Permanent residency will be an absolute requirement. For example, if it is not means tested a person in receipt of a contributory old age pension, which is not means tested, would be entitled to it.
The Minister did not mention the quite considerable costs which can arise in relation to education for those living on the islands. Will these costs be taken into consideration?
We are already making considerable progress in providing education on the islands, which is the most satisfactory way of dealing with the education problem, but also in making improvements in the remote area grant. Since my appointment as Minister of State, my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, at my behest has abolished the means test for the remote area grant. We have also provided much improved facilities for transport home at weekends, etc. We are constantly reducing the cost of education to islanders by making it easier for them to access education and, in particular, by dealing with the transport costs associated with education which tended to be what made education for islanders so expensive.
