Island Communities

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 April 2015

Thursday, 23 April 2015

Ceisteanna (9)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

9. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of funding transferred to the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht for the provision of services on non-Gaeltacht islands by development companies; the reduction in this funding relative to the funding provided for the same period last year; the reason for this reduction; if an agreement was made with the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht before the responsibility was transferred to that Department as to which Department would make up the shortfall; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15673/15]

Freagraí ó Béal (11 píosaí cainte)

Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív

Some eight non-Gaeltacht islands depend on funding from the Government for their community development companies that act as the development agencies and the interface with the State for the islanders on the islands. The money was transferred from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Somewhere in the transfer, €97,000, which is a drop in the ocean in State funding, has been cut from the island funding. Can the Minister explain how much money he transferred and whether he had a prior arrangement with the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht that it would make up any shortfall in the funding transferred?

Deputy Ann Phelan

I assure Deputy Ó Cuív that the islands outside the Gaeltacht islands are of huge importance to me. My Department’s local and community development programme, LCDP, concluded on 31 March 2015 and the new social inclusion and community activation programme, SICAP, was rolled out across communities on 1 April 2015.

During 2014, €527,000 was provided to Comhar na nOileán, the local development company for the islands, for the delivery of the LCDP to offshore islands. As the Deputy will be aware, SICAP was subject to a public procurement process and Comhar na nOileán did not win funding under the SICAP procurement process similar to the funding it received under the LCDP.

We recognise the status of island communities and a revised scheme to support the non-Gaeltacht islands has been agreed between my Department and the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. For the avoidance of doubt, this is a new scheme and does not involve the transfer of responsibility of any function from my Department. I am advised that the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht will now commence an engagement process with island communities in respect of this new scheme.

Funding of €516,463 is being provided to island communities for community development purposes in 2015. This includes €460,481 directly to Comhar na nOileán, €268,958 of which will be disbursed by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht under a new scheme, and €55,982 directly to islands under SICAP in respect of the Mayo and Cork islands. This amount does not take account of funding to other inhabited islands under the Galway county SICAP lot, the north Kerry SICAP lot and the Donegal Gaeltacht SICAP lot. Any additional funding for the new islands scheme will be a matter for the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to address as the lead Department for islands. To help inform himself about the situation, the Deputy could put a parliamentary question to the Minister of State, Deputy McHugh.

Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív

The Minister of State's answer is a marvellous job of obfuscation. Last year, the community development companies received €527,000. I refer to the companies, not SICAP or LCDP. Some €131,000 was given during the first three months of the year. Instead of transferring €397,000, the Minister's Department transferred €300,000 and nicked €97,000. Was a transfer of €300,000 made to the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to facilitate the start of the new scheme? Why was it not €397,000 so the same money could be given to the island development companies this year as last year? In 2013, the Government cut those companies' funding by 9.7%.

Deputy Ann Phelan

I am not sure to what the Deputy refers when he suggests that I "nicked" a certain amount of money on the islands. The Deputy does not have the monopoly on concern for the islands.

Deputy Alan Kelly

Hear, hear.

Deputy Ann Phelan

I am also very concerned about the islands.

Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív

Then do something.

Deputy Ann Phelan

I have met the island people and I understand their concerns. Perhaps the Deputy will want to return to the Government's policy of alignment whereby the islands are being looked after by the local authority. I direct the Deputy's attention again to the fact that the Government is providing over €460,000 directly to Comhar na nOileán, over €260,000 of which will be disbursed by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. I implore the Deputy to put a question to the Minister of State, Deputy McHugh. More than €55,000 is being provided directly to the islands under SICAP in respect of the Mayo and Cork islands, not including Galway county SICAP, north Kerry SICAP and Donegal Gaeltacht SICAP. I do not understand how the Deputy can suggest that we are not concerned about the islands.

An Ceann Comhairle

We are way over time on this question. Other Deputies are waiting to ask their questions. If I call time, please respect it. There is a limit.

Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív

If the Minister of State would sit down with the managers of the development companies, they would tell her the situation is simple. Last year, they had €527,000 to run the companies. This year, it has been cut by €97,000 somewhere between the Minister of State transferring money from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. I have checked this out, and it has been verified by both Departments. There has been a 24% cut in the amount of money to run the companies on Clare Island, Inishturk and Inishbofin and to the five islands in County Cork that receive the services from the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. The Minister of State expects them to run the same service for 24% less, having been affected by a cut of 9.5% in 2013. It is unfair and unsustainable, and if the Ministers care about the islands, they will put back the €100,000 between them.

Deputy Ann Phelan

My focus is on delivering front-line services to the communities. In order to achieve efficiencies, there was a co-ordinated approach to local development in the context of county, regional and national planning, and this is the road along which we are proceeding. The islands will also be looked after in this context. The Deputy does not have the monopoly on concern for the islands. I am also concerned, as are my Department and the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.