Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 14 December 2016

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs

Ferry Services to Inis Mór: Discussion

2:15 pm

Photo of Michael CollinsMichael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses and thank them for their presentations. As there are eight inhabited islands in my constituency of Cork South-West, I have a fair idea of the struggle faced by islanders. Nothing has surprised me as I have been listening to the witnesses speaking about the current situation, which Deputy Ó Cuív has been raising in the Dáil on behalf of the people of Inis Mór. It seems to me that this must have been coming down the road for quite some time. Why was it allowed to reach the point of crisis? Cathy Ní Ghóill has said she was lucky to get a service out of the island today. Why was this point allowed to be reached? I should not be surprised, given that the cable car to Dursey Island was withdrawn on Friday evening for the weekend, with little communication on the issue in west Cork. It became a crisis for the islanders over the weekend. There is only one operator of the cable car. That is a long-term issue in west Cork. I know there are many good ferry operators out there. The ferry services to and from places like Whiddy Island and Long Island are run to the liking of the island community, as much as possible.

Mr. Murray mentioned some of the great difficulties encountered on our islands, including population decreases. Housing policy is being debated in the Dáil Chamber today, but I wonder whether there is any housing policy in relation to our islands. Island populations are decreasing. The nearest social housing is on the mainland. That in itself sends a clear message to me about the Government's thoughts for the future of our islands. When I attended a meeting a couple of weeks ago on Bere Island, which is off the coast near Castletownbere, I learned about the disrespect shown to islanders when they come to the mainland. They are unable to tie up their boats in Castletownbere. It is scandalous that elderly and pregnant women have to walk across boats to get onto the pier. There is little or no sympathy for islanders or understanding of island life. I come from a peninsula that is like an island. When the programme for Government was being drawn up, I made the case for people who live on islands and peninsulas, but I found there was a lack of understanding of their way of living. This is more of it here today. I sympathise with the witnesses as they contend with these serious issues.

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