Following the Taoiseach's announcement on 27 June, arrangements are currently being made to formally transfer the functions of my Department's Islands Division to my colleague in the Department of Rural and Community Development. In advance of the signing of the required Transfer of Functions Order, responsibility for the islands remains with my Department.
Travel to the islands had been restricted as part of the Government's response to COVID 19, whereby only those resident on the islands or those needing access to perform essential services were permitted to travel to the islands. With the easing of restrictions as part of the Roadmap to Recovery, I am glad to confirm that travel to the islands is once more permitted. As with all public transport, guidelines in relation to social distancing and wearing of masks while on ferries are being enforced.
While the Department is in regular contact with the island communities and transport operators with a view to ensuring continuity of passenger and cargo services to the islands, work is also underway to develop a new Cross-Government Islands Policy.
As the Deputy will be aware, the previous Government established an Interdepartmental Committee for Island Development in July last year and, following meetings of this committee, a work plan was agreed for the preparation of an islands policy and subsequent action plan. A consultation paper was subsequently published late in 2019 with the objective of informing the development of this policy.
In January 2020, my officials scheduled a series of consultation meetings to provide island communities the opportunity to offer their views and opinions on future islands policy and to discuss island requirements.
To date, meetings have taken place on eleven islands as follows:
Sherkin
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9 January 2020
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Whiddy
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10 January 2020
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Dursey
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10 January 2020
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Bere Island
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17 January 2020
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Inis Oírr
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22 January 2020
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Inis Mór
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29 January 2020
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Inis Meáin
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30 January 2020
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Heir
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7 February 2020
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Long
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7 February 2020
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Cléire
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7 February 2020
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Árainn Mhór
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13 February 2020
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The public consultation element of the process has had to be temporarily postponed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The next step in the process will be to arrange meetings on the remaining islands and with relevant stakeholders, including state bodies providing services to the islands. Once this aspect of the work has been completed, it is intended that the new Islands Policy will be submitted to Government for approval and published, following on from which an action plan based on the policy will be developed.
The Deputy will be pleased to learn that this work has been identified as a priority in the recently agreed Programme for Government and that, as an indicator of the new Government's commitment to the development of the islands, additional funding of €2m for 2020 was announced in the recent July Stimulus Package to accelerate the completion of an enhanced programme of small capital works such as roads and public amenities on the islands this year.