Ms Sorcha de Brúch:

The Department is acutely aware of the water and housing issues on the islands. We participate in a number of community groups in Cork and throughout the country where these issues have been raised. As the Deputy will be aware, we are in the midst of consultation for the islands policy, as part of which we have been speaking to the various island communities to hear what their big issues are. Water, certainly, is one of the major issues that has arisen on the Aran Islands, as is housing, which is not an issue on every island but is on many, whether in respect of planning permission or social housing. Each of the islands is very different and they all have their individual personalities, if we can call them that.

The Department is not directly responsible for the water or housing issues but, as part of the development of the policy, we are about to engage in a series of bilateral meetings with the line Departments responsible for these issues. They will be top-level issues that we will raise with the Departments to seek some supports and progress. We hope to be able to further develop those issues and to come to some satisfactory conclusion. The Deputy is correct in saying they will have to be addressed. As the Cathaoirleach noted earlier, hygiene issues, in particular, have been highlighted throughout the pandemic. We will raise those issues with the Departments and I will be happy to speak to the Deputy again about them as we progress.