Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy has raised this matter with me many times. Regarding Inis Oírr, Galway County Council has received quotes, the gap analysis has been completed and submitted to the Department, and the council is in regular contact with the foreshore unit of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, which has agreed to assist the local authority with mapping the area where the licence is to apply. I understand that a meeting was recently held between council officials and the local community on Inis Oírr to discuss matters relating to work on the pier, including traffic management, training and new by-laws that were recently adopted and had to come into affect for the duration of the pier's development. My Department will continue to engage with the local authority to monitor the development's progress.

The Deputy knows as well as I that this has to be driven at local authority level as well. We are happy to help. Whenever the request comes in, we will be able to manage it. We have made a commitment that we will find the money for these developments, but they have to move through a process that God knows takes a long time.