Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:8. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Community and Rural Development and the Islands the stage of progress regarding her plans to develop the pier on Inis Oírr. [24347/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 17 September 2020
Ceisteanna (8, 15)
Mairéad Farrell
Ceist:15. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Community and Rural Development and the Islands if the €500,000 for preparatory works for the upgrade of Inis Oírr pier and breakwater has been officially confirmed by her Department; the items the funding will be spent on; and if it will be used to put the upgrade and breakwater for the pier out to tender in view of the fact the pier development was promised in 2015. [24441/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí ó Béal (9 píosaí cainte)
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire agus táim ag iarraidh ceist chéibh Inis Oírr a ardú léi. Is iomaí duine a bhíonn i dteagmháil liom ó Inis Oírr maidir leis an ngeall a rinne an Rialtas chun athfhorbairt a dhéanamh ar an gcéibh seo agus tá sé ardaithe agam arís agus arís.
I want to raise with the Minister the issue of Inis Oírr pier. This was promised in 2015 and yet no works have been done. Will the Minster detail her plans to develop Inis Oírr pier?
I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 15 together.
It is a strategic objective of my Department to develop and implement various initiatives and measures to support the social, cultural and economic development of the inhabited offshore islands to ensure they survive as viable communities. The provision of safe and regular access by sea is crucial for the maintenance of those island communities. The development of the pier on Inis Oírr, which includes the provision of a breakwater, is listed among the strategic objectives set out in Project Ireland 2040. Additionally, a special allocation of €0.5 million was allocated under the Government's July stimulus package to upgrade harbour facilities at Inis Oírr. This additional funding will be reflected in my Department's Vote for 2020. Initial expenditure items will include engineering and surveying works on the development of a design and build tender. Department officials have been working closely with Galway County Council to advance the project and are in the process of agreeing the business case for the project as required under the public spending code. Once this has been completed and the necessary approvals are received at departmental level and from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and subject to the financial resources being available through the annual Estimates process, the project will then proceed to tender stage.
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. We all know that the pier at Inis Oírr is just not fit for purpose. It is a danger and a hazard. It is a critical piece of infrastructure for Inis Oírr and is essential for public safety as well as being fundamental to the survival and sustainability of the island's economy. Muintir Inis Oírr cannot afford any further delays nor do I want to be raising this issue in the time ahead. I welcome that €0.5 million has been set aside to begin the development of Inis Oírr pier. Will the Minister clarify in even greater detail exactly how this money will be spent. Islanders have told me preparatory works have been ongoing for more than 15 years. What is different this time?
I know the pier project at Inis Oírr is long awaited. Deputy Ó Cuív raised this matter on many occasions, he has worked hard on it and is very familiar with it, as are other Deputies. We are making progress. As I said, €0.5 million in funding was secured for upgrade works to the harbour facilities as part of the July stimulus. My officials are working very closely with Galway County Council to advance the project. I assure Deputy Farrell that I will make the case to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for funding to deliver this project. In fairness, the Minister, Deputy McGrath, has a very difficult job and there are many competing priorities across Government. I will do everything I can. I look forward to the support of the Deputies in this Chamber in supporting my efforts to do that. As I said, it has been awaited for a long time.
I understand there will be competing priorities but capital investment projects will be extremely important in the period ahead. If there is a situation of competing priorities, I will detail exactly how important this piece of infrastructure is for the people of Inis Oírr and I will detail some of the issues that have arisen over the past months. The hazards relating to the pier are endless and include extremely damaged hand rails, uneven surfaces, broken lights, and trip hazards in the form of broken wires and pipes. During a recent bad storm and in the midst of our lockdown, a skip was blown over the pier. That details exactly how difficult it is. At the start of March there was an incident when the ferry came in and could not allow passengers to disembark at the pier due to the dangers of the sea coming over the wall and with no lights at the pier. I invite the Minister to come out to visit the pier so she can make up her mind as to whether she feels it is safe and if she would be happy to rely on it if she lived on Inis Oírr.
Planning permission for this pier is in place since 2008. In 2015 the then Minister for Finance provided €6 million for the construction of the pier. That money was later withdrawn because there was no way of spending it. This has been going on and on. I believe that the funding cannot be asked for until one has the price. I understood that the next step in the process was to get the business plan approved by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. I will give warning here to the Minister, and I am sure the Leas-Cheann Comhairle will indulge me. I made the case about this pier many years ago and got the classic answer that there was a pier on Inis Mór. They are two different islands, so if they come back with that answer do not be fooled.
There is a great pier on Inis Mór but it is no good to anybody on Inis Oírr.
We need to know if that step has been taken because there is no point worrying about the money until the business plan has been approved. Has the Department submitted the business plan? I also support the call for the Minister to visit the island but she should not visit it on a calm day. She should go out there on a rough day when the sea is breaking over the back of the pier and then she will see that it is an absolute threat to life and limb. It is not a question of money; it simply has to be done.
I take on board what the Deputies have said but the day-to-day maintenance of piers, including the development and enforcement of by-laws, is primarily an issue for the relevant local authority which in this case is Galway County Council. I am aware that damage was done to the pier in the early part of the year and I understand the Deputies' concerns regarding the volume of passengers and what has happened to them. Departmental officials have been in contact with their colleagues in Galway County Council with a view to ensuring the pier is safe for users. I understand that a number of safety issues regarding the use of the pier have been resolved as a result of these contacts.
What about the business plan? Has that been submitted to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform yet?
Costings have been done. There are estimates but I do not want to elaborate because if I give details publicly, the estimate will then become the floor price. I will not do that but we have fairly detailed estimates of what the cost will be.