Ms Aisling Moran:

-----and creating sustainable, vibrant island communities. For committee members who may not know of Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann, we were founded in 1984 and represent the offshore inhabited islands. The organisation’s aim is the social, economic and cultural development of island communities, achieved through representation at local, national and EU levels. Ultimately, we strive to maintain and increase the island populations. It is important to remember that although islands have much in common they are different places and have different circumstances and challenges. One of the challenges we face around the islands is they are quite different in lots of ways and quite similar in others.

I am Aisling Moran and I am chair of Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann. I am the project worker with Sherkin Island Development Society and for the past decade I have been a passionate advocate for the islands. We are looking for a holistic way towards sustainable living on the islands. My colleague, Simon Murray from Inishbofin, County Galway, has spent his entire life working for and with island communities, ensuring their key concerns are continuously addressed, resolved and brought to light. He brings with him a wealth of knowledge on what has and has not worked on the islands over the last number of years. We will not say how many years but it is a lot.

As recommended we will keep our statement within five to ten minutes. I hope to address some of the policy measures as outlined in the national document, Our Rural Future. One of the aspects was addressed by the Chairman, that is, that there is "an extra dimension due to the islands’ separation from the mainland". For us, that extra dimension sometimes manifests in additional living challenges and we can see this through population decline. Just as a point to note, in 1841, which is a long time ago, the islands' population was 34,219. As of 2016 it is 2,627. That is a huge decline. No other community has experienced such a dramatic decline and it is a threat. There is no other place in Ireland that has experienced a decline like that. Our figures for education, employment and access to broadband are all below the national average and this is all outlined in the document. Similarly to any disadvantaged or marginalised community, our survival is reliant on a deeper understanding, advocacy and support from the wider community. A combined effort from islanders with local and national government is required and it is great to see that opportunity manifesting itself today. Islanders themselves have proved their resilience and hardworking nature in surviving to date.

Many of the actions and ambitions in Our Rural Future are valuable, wide-ranging policy measures. What really gives us hope for the future is the Government's commitment to the development and sustainability of our island communities. That is something we really want to grab hold of and are really grateful for. This includes the publication of the ten-year policy for the islands' development to 2030. This policy document is the first policy measure within Our Rural Future. It is really important to the islands and will shape their nature for the next few decades. Over the course of this year, Comhdháil has conducted online workshops and consultations. One of the biggest things we get feedback on is meaningful consultation, which the Chairman mentioned. It is about islanders' voices being really heard at local, national and European level. We have asked that the draft of the policy document be available for comment prior to the final publication. It is islanders' opinion our first-hand experience will greatly enhance the efficacy of the document. As with any policy document, success is based on actions, implementation plans and follow-up. These are the kind of things we are really aiming and hoping for within the first policy measure of Our Rural Future. We want to get the opportunity to comment on a draft and see that there are actions and implementation plans.

Vital infrastructure is another aspect of this, which the Chairman also mentioned. We have piers, harbours, roads and ferries. When we look at vital infrastructure, we must include housing. We did a housing workshop in 2021. We have severe problems with housing. I am conscious it is a national problem as well but if we do not have affordable housing for islanders to live in then we will not have people living on the islands. Among the additional information we supplied to the committee is the report on housing. We have worked with Comhar na nOileán and we will be doing more work on that during the year. Again, we do not have a solution for it but it must be looked at as part of the vital infrastructure.

When we look at things that have worked and are commented on in the policy document, one of these is the interagency aspect. I am lucky enough to be part of what is called the West Cork Islands Interagency. It brings agencies at a local level together with local authorities and the islanders to talk about the best way to solve problems together. Something like this in each of the counties which has islands would be really beneficial. It opens up lines of communication for everybody so we really look forward to something like that happening. The interdepartmental committee has potential to be a huge success and we very much welcome that there is such a committee and there is that opportunity for the Departments to work together on all policies. Comhdháil recently had the opportunity to speak before this committee and it was greatly appreciated. We hope that will be replicated a couple of times a year. When any Department is writing policies, we would offer our services at any stage for questions its officials may have. That is what we are here for as well. If people have questions about any policies that have been written at Government level, Comhdháil can answer them. Any Department is welcome to call or email us and we will give our best opinion on how we see some of the policies affecting islanders and the sustainability and vibrancy of island communities into the future.

Broadband was also mentioned and is mentioned in the document. We are looking at opportunities for GTeic and enterprise hubs and it is really good we have seen the roll-out of some of this. We are also talking with National Broadband Ireland. We are looking for fibre to be rolled out within the island communities and not just a signal bounce. That is vital. That is what is happening everywhere else across the country and it needs to be happening on the islands as well to ensure we have the same connectivity available as on the mainland. It must go into the homes as well because we have all seen the success and the impact of working from home and it is not going away. If we are to keep up with it, we must ensure that is what is happening with National Broadband Ireland and within the policy documents we are putting out.

The document goes on to mention how the islands can be test beds for innovative technologies and anything that could maximise the potential for this is obviously greatly appreciated. We already are test beds in many ways but anything that can improve that would be great. It is really good to see the emergence of ehealth. This could have major positive effects for the islands, along with HSE primary healthcare review which is under way in the four counties. The HSE has set up these interagencies to get the actions and the implementation structures of that plan moving, which is really positive as well as being vital for us on the islands.

There are many policy measures around the coast, our marine and the sea. We welcome any marine sustainability development plan in partnership with the islands. Comhdháil works really closely with the Irish Islands Marine Resource Organisation, IIMRO, which is the representative body of island fishermen and fisherwomen. This group feeds into many of the policy documents. Members of IIMRO and Comhdháil often stress the importance of the Island Fisheries (Heritage Licence) Bill 2017 is currently on Committee Stage in the Dáil. This would protect and aid islanders in utilising the waters around the islands in a manner that protects both island heritage and the environment.

We would look to include that in the policy and would look for support on it where possible.

We are delighted to have the opportunity to speak before all members of the committee, Deputies, Senators and Chairperson, and very grateful for the inclusion of chapter 10 in Our Rural Future. It is a real step forward for the islands. We recognise that it addresses many of the concerns of islanders, and that is very positive. Farming and education are notably absent from the policy measures in the document. The document does recognise the challenges faced by island farmers and recognises that the percentage of the island population holding third level qualifications, at about 18%, is lower than the national average of 24%. We believe both these challenges can be addressed through a ten-year policy document and the interdepartmental committee. Even though they are not included among the policy measures in Our Rural Future, they can definitely be included in the islands policy document.

A partial solution to the farming challenges would be to include an island-unique measure in the national CAP strategy. The education system on islands requires aid and improvement and lots of discussion. This is where the notion that all islands are a little different comes from. On some islands it is access to education that needs addressing as well as how we can get equal access to education for islanders at both primary and secondary level. On other islands there is education but there are limited and stretched resources. We need to think about how we can achieve the goal of getting education on the islands up to the national average.

It is an honour for me to speak before the committee. I am full of hope and anticipation that we can all work together to achieve something. Having a policy document at a national level and the islands document and interdepartmental committee are all positive steps. I hope we have change-makers in the room today, that we will be able to leave a legacy and that we will not be looking at the absolute decimation of populations in 50 or 100 years' time.

That was my brief synopsis of some of the issues. I hope some of the recommendations will be taken on board. I will pass over to Mr. Simon Murray, my colleague, who will briefly conclude our statement.