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

I thank the Minister of State and his officials. There are quite a few islands in my constituency of Cork South-West: Dursey, Bere, Whiddy, Long, Heir and Sherkin as well as Cape Clear. Since the Minister of State's appointment as Minister with responsibility for the islands, he has been no stranger to west Cork, with many visits to Sherkin Island and Bere Island, which first come to mind. I thank the islanders off west Cork and around the country for the measures they have taken through this Covid crisis to protect the people who live on the islands.

The Minister of State might not be able to answer all my questions as some might be more appropriately answered by the Minister, Deputy Madigan, as they relate to people who live on the islands and the arts. The Minister of State needs to take leadership on islands as there is a high degree of confusion.

I have been contacted by people on the islands continually in the past two to three weeks and I contacted people on most of the islands in west Cork last night to see what the feeling is out there. They want to know when islands can open up to the public in a safe manner. That is the first question.

I am told there are no public toilet facilities on many of the islands. Hygiene is a big issue and it will be at the forefront of the minds of all who will visit islands such as Long Island and Sherkin Island. Will the Department fast-track efforts to open public toilets where they are currently unavailable?

I looked through the new programme for Government drawn up by three of the parties. I went through it page by page and from back to front to see what the vision is for our islands for the next five years and all I found was two lines, basically 33 words, explaining that someone will publish a plan for islands this year. During the weeks of negotiation, was there no one from rural Ireland or the islands at the table who could have formulated some sort of a vision for the islands? That is a worry.

Are there any plans to build social housing on the islands in the next five years? If we are to rebuild our islands, we need social housing. I know the arts are very important to the islands, Sherkin Island among others. Many are worried. A total of €6.4 million was lost to the arts sector from cancelled events. Will the Government continue to support freelance artists and arts workers through the pandemic unemployment payment until mass gatherings are permitted again? An Indigo national audience survey indicates that the arts and culture sector will be the last to return to full capacity and will need support to ensure survival and recovery. Will the Government ensure that an equitable portion of the European Commission's structural funding is committed to the arts and culture sector?

The arts will be fundamental to Ireland's recovery, impacting across society in many different ways, including the economy, education, tourism, health and well-being. Will there be a full Minister for culture in the next Cabinet?