Ms Aisling Moran:

I thank the Chairman for his comments on the islands and the national action plan. We welcome his comments on it. The opportunity to highlight some of the challenges facing offshore islands is very much appreciated today. As the Chairman stated, this is our second appearance before the committee. We welcome the policy document, Our Rural Futures, in particular chapter 10 which deals with supporting the sustainability of our islands and coastal communities. To recap quickly for those who do not know, Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann was founded in 1984 and represents the offshore inhabited islands. The organisation’s aim is the social, economic and cultural development of the island communities through representation at local, national, and EU levels. Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann’s overarching aim is to maintain and develop the islands, which is in line with our Our Rural Futures policy document. While islands have much in common, it is important to remember that there are many nuances and bespoke approaches may be needed for certain challenges. As the chair of Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann I represent islanders. I am the project co-ordinator for Sherkin Island Development Society and act as an island advocate. For the past decade I have been working with the islands seeking comprehensive means to live sustainably on our offshore islands. My colleagues here are Simon Murray from Inishbofin and John Walsh from Bere Island. Simon has spent his entire life working with and for island communities, ensuring key concerns are continuously addressed. Many members will know him from his continual addressing of key concerns of the islands. John Walsh is project manager for Bere Island Projects Group and is the chair of the European Small Islands Federation, ESIN, and an islands advocate.

Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann finds it necessary at the start of our opening statement to reiterate the shocking population statistics. In 1841 there were 34,219 people living on our offshore islands. By 2016 there were 2,627. No other community has experienced such a decline. That is pointed out in the national action plan. These figures have not improved and some islands have moved closer to the edge. Serious and continued Government support is needed to ensure the long-term viability of our offshore islands. We can see the way this trend is going and where we are going to be in 20 or 30 years' time if it continues.

Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann would like to highlight four areas of concern and if time allows, address other areas the Chairman addressed also. The first area of concern is housing. The social context in how we live has disproportionately impacted the housing situation on the islands. Updated laws on planning policy limit the ability of islanders to be able to build on their islands. Ireland has seen an increase in second-home ownership and this demand has driven the price of existing island housing stock out the reach of islanders. Like no other area, islands are finite spaces. Therefore islanders need to be able either to afford to build or buy homes on the islands. Alternative mainland housing options are not a solution to the island housing crises. The housing situation on the offshore islands is urgent. It is an area where there has been very little research carried out to date. University College Cork, in conjunction with Comhar na nOileán and Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann, is currently engaged to conduct a comprehensive housing survey on all the offshore inhabited islands. The outcomes of this survey will result in a report and housing recommendations for the offshore islands.

In September 2022 Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann will host its annual general meeting, the main theme of which will be housing and the outcomes of this report. All members are welcome to attend that and invites will go out at a later stage. Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann is hopeful that this report will be an input into Our Rural Futures, as one of the policy measures is the ten-year island policy document and it will also be an input into that. This will be a substantial evidence-backed research document.

The second area of concern we need to look at, which the Chair also mentioned, is connectivity and broadband. The past two years have been challenging and very different for the whole world and islanders are no different. One of the main results of the Covid-19 pandemic is that people want to and sometimes must work from home. There is a new age of remote working already building in Ireland.

Comhdhaíl Oileáin na hÉireann sees this as an opportunity for islanders to attract emigrant islanders and new residents to the islands. To do this, we need sufficient housing and reliable high-speed broad systems in place. As we stated in our previous presentation to the committee, in exploring the opportunities for Gteic digital hubs, broadband connection points, BCPs, and enterprise hubs in our communities, it is vital that the national broadband plan, NBP, provides islands with fibre optic cable connections from the mainland. We must stay in step with the mainland all the way along.

The national action plan, Our Rural Future, notes that 58% of people on the islands have access to computers and 55% have access to broadband. This is considerably lower than on the mainland, where 73% of the population have access to a household computer and 72% to the Internet. While the NBP is meant to deliver high-speed broadband to all areas of Ireland, and several islands already have BCPs and have developed Internet hubs that are proving very successful, there is much more to be done and it must be done at a faster pace. People cannot and will not put their businesses and lives on hold waiting for the infrastructure to catch up with the technology.

The third area I want to speak about today is infrastructure, lifelong services and capital funding. The islands capital budget programme funds infrastructure projects, lifelong services and capital works. We believe there is definite scope for an increase in this budget to reflect the real needs of the offshore islands. Our Rural Future states that the Government will invest in vital infrastructure on the islands over the lifetime of the policy to ensure safe access for islanders, service providers and visitors alike. For us, infrastructure is not only about safe access; it is about the everyday lives of islanders and the future sustainability of the islands. Comhdhaíl Oileáin na hÉireann would like to see a consistent budget that can meet the needs of the offshore islands, working in conjunction with the interdepartmental committee on islands development, island inter-agency groups and local authorities. The islands capital budget programme is crucial to the sustainability of the offshore islands. The success of the island policy document depends on real financial support and backing through its implementation. The budget has, in the past, proven to be capable of covering a wide range of vital areas of island life integral to the future of the offshore islands.

The final issue I want to raise, which is part of a broader current debate, is energy. Sustainable energy is the way forward and a key consideration for the whole country at this time. As islanders, we are really keen to be at the forefront of these new developments. We are already working at this on an EU level through its clean energy for EU islands secretariat. My colleague, Mr. Walsh, may say more about that presently. Working with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, there is major potential for all offshore islands to work at a local and national level. The recent Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, national home retrofit scheme was welcome. However, that scheme is a key example of how things do not translate to the islands due to the higher costs of works and the requirements on contractors. It is an example of where island-proofing would aid in the understanding of these nuances. We are hopeful that through engagement with the interdepartmental committee and the Minister, we will get resolution on this. Islands are ideal test beds for energy pilot projects.

The issues I have touched on by no means amount to a comprehensive list of those relevant to offshore islands. We certainly would welcome an expansion of the conversation to include policies around health, education, agriculture, marine access, childcare, enterprise, employment, fire and emergency services, waste management, tourism, youth and older people, many of which are considered within the 12 policy measures of the national action plan. One of the most important policy measures in that plan is the ten-year islands policy development plan, which will allow us to expand on all these areas. We recognise that being here before the committee today is a great opportunity. We see great potential and great opportunities in our working together. We acknowledge that the work on the islands policy document being done by the Department is central to our rural future and our success and sustainability into the future. We request that a draft version of this document, along with an implementation plan, be presented to the island communities before its final publication. We recognise the real importance of the interdepartmental committee, alongside the Department, in the process of writing the policies document. As representatives of Comhdhaíl Oileáin na hÉireann, we are grateful for the opportunity to speak here today. We see these opportunities as key to the delivery of Government policies and the means to secure the future of Ireland's offshore islands for coming generations. We can turn the tide on the numbers and ensure we have sustainable living on the islands. I thank members for taking the time to listen to me.