Seanad Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 27 Feb 2014

Adjournment Matters

Ferry Services Provision

Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh

Cuirim céad fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. Táim thar a bheith buíoch dó as teacht isteach ar an ábhar seo. The ferry service to the Aran Islands and Inis Mór in particular is in effect the highway for people living on the island because it provides their access to and from the island. Until recent years there was a subsidy available to the operators of the service to serve all three islands. The Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Dinny McGinley, decided to unbundle that contract in order that the service to Inis Meáin and Inis Oírr continued with a subsidy but there is no subsidy available for the service to Inis Mór. The logic was, I suppose, that because many tourists go to Inis Mór, it is a busy service and would be self-sustaining. It appears that is not the case.

Members of Comharchumann Forbartha Árann have raised this with me. They are very concerned. They met representatives of the Oireachtas in January and asked us to raise this issue. The local Deputies on the Government side assured us at that meeting that they would seek a meeting with the Minister of State on this issue because it is very serious. That has not happened. What engagement has there been between the Minister of State and the people of Inis Mór on this issue? The major issue raised by Comharchumann Forbartha Árann is that an unsubsidised ferry service cannot be guaranteed during the winter months, and it asks that this route be advertised for tender as soon as possible. The company running the service commercially says it is losing money during the winter months. There is no obligation on it to provide a service during the winter months and, therefore, the people of Inis Mór could be left without any service whatsoever.

The comharcumann also has a problem with levies imposed by Galway County Council and has asked the Minister of State to intervene. As islanders, they believe this is an unfair tax and they vehemently oppose it. They have asked the Minister of State to intervene with the local authority to try to come up with another solution instead of a levy, which they maintain has an adverse effect on the numbers travelling to the island. The numbers have dropped dramatically and they have written to inform the Minister of State about this. They believe Galway County Council as a public body should work in the interests of the island and not impose a tax on travel to the island. The Government abolished tax on flights in and out of the whole island because it was detrimental to tourism but allowing a county council impose a tax on people travelling to a smaller offshore island raises the same argument, as the figures show.

The co-op also notes that no other coastal island has such a levy, and the loss of between 40,000 and 50,000 people per annum travelling from Doolin to Inis Mór is due to this levy. This is generating a great deal of negative publicity and ticket prices will probably increase due to this levy, resulting in fewer people travelling. This is a serious problem for the people of the Aran Islands. They have forwarded the statistics to the Minister of State on the fall in visitor numbers. They feel the locals are being penalised because the cost of travelling from Inis Mór to Rossaveal has increased as a result of the subsidy's being discontinued.

It is unacceptable that since the meeting in January the Minister of State has not met the Comharchumann Forbartha Arann on this issue. I will call on him to have that meeting as soon as possible to see what can be done to rectify the situation. The tenders for the ferry service at least could be advertised to see what type of operators would pitch for them, how much it would cost and whether a subsidy could or needs to be reinstated for the ferry service.

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills (Deputy Sean Sherlock)

Tá mé ag labhairt inniú ar son an Aire Stáit Mhic Fhionnlaoich a bhfuil aiféala air nach féidir leis a bheith i lathair de bharr go bhfuil sé ar ghnó eile.

The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is the principal Department charged with island development by supporting the improvement of infrastructure and assisting with the provision of essential services. The Department subsidises lifeline transport services for inhabited offshore islands. These comprise passenger and cargo ferry services, with a connecting bus service where necessary. In addition, the Department subsidises an air service for the three Aran Islands, which includes Inis Mór, under a public service obligation contract. In this regard the Department also subsidises a management service for the aerodromes based on these islands. In all, the Department subsidises transport services for 19 offshore islands in counties Donegal, Mayo, Galway and Cork. These services provide safe, all-year round transport services for the islands involved, thereby improving the quality of life for islanders and supporting sustainable island communities as well as promoting island tourism. Expenditure on these services was €5.9 million in 2013. The same allocation is available in 2014.

The contract for the subsidised passenger ferry service for Inis Mór came to an end on 31 January 2013. The Department sought tenders through a public tendering process, as it does with all its subsidised services, for a further five year contract until 31 January 2018, but received no tender within the deadline set. In the absence of a tender, officials from the Department held discussions with the ferry operator that had been providing the contracted service to explore the possibility of entering into a new contract for the service on the same terms as the previous contract. Unfortunately, these discussions were unsuccessful as the Department could not accept the operator's claim for a substantial subsidy increase on a service that is, by all accounts, profitable without a subsidy. The Department understands that the operator continued to provide the service at the same level since the end of the contract with the State but that the fares payable by island residents were increased.

I understand tsome uncertainty has recently arisen regarding the continuation of the service at the current level. A representative of the operator met my Department and indicated that circumstances for the company have altered and that it cannot guarantee it will be able to continue operating as previously. Officials also met representatives of the island co-op and the Minister of State is aware of their concerns about the current situation.

The Minister of State would like to make it clear to the Senator that he is open to undertaking any reasonable steps that would assist in finding a resolution to meet with the requirements of all parties. Any steps the Department might take must fall within public procurement regulations and be achievable within the resources available to it. There are no plans at present to readvertise this contract as the Department does not have in its possession any evidence to indicate that the outcome of another public tendering process would differ dramatically from that which took place towards the end of 2012. As the Senator will appreciate, it is incumbent on the Minister of State to ensure public money is spent in the most cost-effective manner and achieves the maximum return for the State. The Department cannot justify subsidising a service if such subsidy is not warranted.

I assure the Senator that efforts will continue to ensure there will be a regular passenger ferry service to the island at reasonable cost throughout the year and Department personnel are always available for discussion.

Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit agus molaim é as cúpla focal Gaeilge a úsáid ag an tús. The key line in the reply is that the Department does not have in its possession any evidence which would indicate the outcome of another public tendering process would differ dramatically. I contend that there cannot be any extra evidence unless there is a tender. The Minister needs to put the needs of the people on the island first and should meet representatives of Comharchumann Forbartha Árann Teoranta, as they may have the evidence sought by the Department. His first priority should be a year-round sustainable service to Inis Mór in order that they can continue to develop the island economically, socially, etc. I call on the Minister of State to ask another Minister of State, Deputy Dinny McGinley, to intervene and meet representatives of the co-op as soon as possible in this regard.

Deputy Sean Sherlock

I acknowledge the Senator's contribution. I know the Minister will make himself available to seek a resolution to the matter. I will convey to him the Senator's contribution.

Schools Amalgamation

Senator Colm Burke

I welcome the Minister of State. Although this issue is not directly connected to his Department, it is an extremely important matter in the north side of Cork city. There is a proposed amalgamation and reconfiguration of schools in the area and one is Scoil Mhuire Fatima, or North Mon. That school has 170 students and no infant classes; if it had a full complement, it would probably have over 200 students because the infant classes are dealt with at the North Presentation school and St. Vincent's school. When this proposal arose, there was no consultation with parents, teachers or boards of management.

The proposal is for the amalgamation of North Mon with St. Vincent's and there is major concern among parents and teachers that the facilities at St. Vincent's are inadequate with regard to play areas, for example. The proposal would also have a Gaelscoil at Farranferris move to North Mon. There is concern that the proposal seems to be going ahead with little or no consultation with parents, teachers or the principals of the schools. I attended a meeting of over 250 parents recently and major concerns were expressed. The Minister should get involved in the issue as there is no support for the proposal as it currently exists. The Gaelscoil could still be accommodated at North Mon without the primary school moving to St. Vincent's. This concern has been expressed by parents, teachers and the principal at North Mon. It should be taken on board by the Minister.

Deputy Sean Sherlock

I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Ruairí Quinn. As a Minister of State in the Department of Education and Skills and being from Cork, I am very much aware of the issue at hand. I thank the Senator for raising the matter as it offers us the opportunity to clarify the current position on the proposed amalgamation and reconfiguration of primary schools on the north side of Cork city. I advise the Senator that we are aware that a consultation process has been initiated involving North Presentation primary school, St. Vincent's girls' primary school, Scoil Mhuire Fatima - or North Mon primary school - and Gaelscoil Pheig Sayers.

As the Senator may be aware, the initiative for any amalgamation or reconfiguration of schools may come from a variety of sources, such as parents, staff, boards of management and patrons. Any such proposal must involve consultation with all of the relevant stakeholders and follow decisions taken at local level. In that regard, any proposed changes must be well planned and managed in a manner that accommodates the interests of parents, teachers and local communities, which is a key point, and contributes to an inclusive education system. It is a matter for the relevant school authorities, including the parents and school community, to arrive at a satisfactory outcome.

I confirm that although the decision making authority for the amalgamation of any school belongs to the patron of the schools concerned, such a proposal is then subject to the approval of the Minister for Education and Skills. With regard to the primary school amalgamation and reconfiguration being proposed, I understand details of this proposal has recently been sent to the boards of management, staff and parents of the four schools involved. It is understood that when the consultation process is concluded, the trustees of the schools concerned will make a recommendation to the patron for his decision in the matter. In that regard, I confirm that to date the Minister has not received any proposal from the patron or trustees in the matter.

I again thank the Senator for giving me the opportunity to clarify the current position.

Senator Colm Burke

There is some confusion about who is the patron. My understanding is that North Mon is owned by the Christian Brothers and they have decided to move the school. Will the Minister of State clarify who is the patron? If the legal owners decide that this is what they want and if the parents, teachers, board of management and principal of the school are not in favour of the proposal, where does that leave the Department?

Deputy Sean Sherlock

It is very difficult to answer that question as there is a certain amount of theory involved. If no proposal has been received by the Minister to date, this is still very much a localised process. With regard to who is the patron, I would have thought the answer could be divined through the various schools involved in the process. In the absence of any application, correspondence or proposal to the Department or Minister, it could be argued that we are blind to any proposal. Therefore, notwithstanding the level of public sentiment expressed at the public meeting about the process, no clarification or correspondence has been provided to us either at a political or departmental level. We await such correspondence, should it arise. The question of the patron remains to be answered and perhaps I can provide assistance to the Senator in due course.

Senator Colm Burke

That would be very much appreciated as there was confusion at the public meeting. It was alleged that one party was a patron but that party denied it. The issue should be clarified.

An Leas-Chathaoirleach

I hope the matter will be sorted out.

The Seanad adjourned at 12.40 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 4 March 2014.