Vol. 547 No. 1
893 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the position regarding an application by Donegal County Council (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2332/02]
As stated in my reply to Question No. 408 of 20 November 2001, an application to grant island status to the island referred to by the Deputy was received by my Department from Donegal County Council in 2001. This application is currently under consideration by my officials and a decision is expected shortly. I should add that one of the criteria for granting of island status by my Department is that the island concerned must be cut off from the mainland daily by the tide. I wish to advise the Deputy in that regard that a grant of £26,200 or 50% of the cost was approved by my Department in 2000 to enable Donegal County Council to raise the level of the causeway serving the Island thereby making the island permanently accessible by road. I understand that this work is now complete.
