Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for coming and for their presentations. I apologise because I missed part of the questions and answers. If I ask questions that have already been answered, therefore, please feel free to skip over them. I will watch the recording of this meeting later.

I will pose my questions to all the witnesses and then whoever wishes to answer may do so. They can suit themselves. I will start with the issue of population decline.

You will have seen a slight increase in population in rural areas due to Covid-19 which of course has been really welcome. Part of that has been because of the remote working hubs. I wonder have witnesses seen that increase in population even slightly on the islands, where people have come back?

In regard to the ten-year plan to 2030 for the islands, obviously we are almost coming into 2022 now so when it is published it will not be a ten-year plan. A recent reply to a parliamentary question from the Minister indicated that the plan is not actually going to be published this year. That does not seem to be the indication. In regard to consultation, all are agreed it is important to listen to people who live on the islands, who have that first hand experience. How did witnesses feel about the level of consultation in regard to the ten-year policy plan that is being drafted at the moment? Was the consultation done well? Did the witnesses feel they were heard? In regard to getting a draft copy of the report before it is finalised and published, is that likely to happen? Has the Minister been asked? How has the Minister responded in regard to that?

Housing is obviously a major issue everywhere but I accept it is a major issue on the islands where people perhaps want to move back to the islands, who are there now and are having difficulty getting somewhere to live. In regard to derelict houses specifically, are there any numbers? Is there a census or data in regard to derelict houses on our islands? What kind of numbers are we looking at?

In regard to the island allowance, perhaps this has not be raised. There was some fanfare last year in the budget when that was announced, it is about €20 now. What is the significance or not of that, for people living on the islands? There was mention of a tax incentive, but who gets that specific allowance? How does it work? Is it a worthwhile payment?

In regard to the rural social scheme, we have issues constantly in regard to vacancies, referrals and issues coming down the track now in regard to the seven year rule. Are there any provisions on the islands in regard to that seven-year rule where we have a problem where people are going to be moving off it, and in some cases those places will not be filled? Obviously they are carrying out really important services in local areas. Is there any provision for the islands in regard to the seven-year rule? If not, can we hear a little about the scheme and how it works on the islands.

The case has been made, and one thing we take away from today is the need for island specific programmes, and island specific funding for the likes of LEADER, which is very important. They are two suggestions we will put forward in our submission as a committee to the Department and to the Minister in regard to the grant aid for private individual projects and the need for that to increase, and the need for specific funding ring-fenced for the islands when it comes to LEADER and also on SICAP, we should be able to see moves that would include the islands. The Government knows, our rural feature states it quite clearly. They have made the case that the islands are disadvantaged so why should they not come under SICAP. That is something we should be able to progress.

Island strategies have been mentioned, and the need for specific island strategies. Is that expected to come out of the ten-year plan being drafted at the moment?