Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their presentations. Ar dtús báire, is mór an trua é nach raibh Máire Uí Mhaoláin go huile ar a compord a cur a láthair a thabhairt trí mheán na Gaolainne. Léiríonn sé sin an meon atá istigh anseo i dTeach Laighin faoi úsáid na Gaolainne. Má táimid dáiríre faoi úsáid na Gaolainne istigh anseo, caithfidh go mbeidh sé mar nós comónta do na Teachtaí agus na Seanadóirí anseo na cluasáin a chur orthu muna bhfuil Gaolainn ar a dtoil acu, chun go mbeidh Máire, Cathy agus a leithéid go huile agus go hiomlán ar a gcompord a gcuid gnó a dhéanamh trí mheán na Gaeilge. Is mór an trua é sin.

The one thing Waterford is missing is an island. We have everything else, but no island. I have visited three of the four islands represented here. Ní rabhas ar Inis Oírr go dtí seo. I am very interested in this unit of work that the committee has taken on because it is a huge learning experience for me. The message regarding meaningful consultation comes across strongly. Without the lived experience of an island, you cannot really understand the challenges going on there. I will direct my questions on the education front, which is my own background, to Ms Moran. I would like to understand the challenges a bit more. I note Oileán Chléire is looking to recruit a príomhoide at primary level and it is finding that really difficult to do. I ask Mr. Moran to expand the challenges that face the islands at primary level. I assume the situation in respect of second level is different in terms of subject choices and the numbers coming through the schools. I would like a better understanding as well of the housing challenges. We have talked about planning. The island populations are more dispersed in general. The Town Centre First initiative is welcome in most contexts but I know that it will not lend itself well to most of the island contexts. I ask the witnesses to give me a better insight into the challenges in terms of housing. For example, is it about the cost of land, the cost of housing, access to borrowing and so on?

On the same theme, does the dispersed nature of the population on the islands lock out the islands from certain funding streams? The rural regeneration and development fund, RRDF, and the town and village renewal scheme come to mind. Is it difficult for the islands to access that funding? I assume they may not be eligible for it. I would also welcome an understanding of the demographics of the islands. I assume - and I hope I am not doing so incorrectly - that we are looking at a demographic doughnut whereby there are children but no people in their 20s and 30s and an older population. I am coming from a position of ignorance in that regard. I would genuinely like an overview of the population challenges in terms of demographics and if that creates specific challenges in terms of education, service provision, health provision, etc.