Mr. J.P. Mulherin:

There was a specific question from Deputy Kerrane about the island communities. I have not seen the paper from Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann to which she referred but I would be very interested to see it, if she would like to pass it on. She asked about the islands strategy. The SDGs will be mainstreamed into the islands strategy. The strategy is in the final stages of preparation. The Minister, Deputy Humphreys, was asked about it in the Dáil last week and gave a commitment, I think, to have the strategy finalised over the next two months. Speaking to the point Deputy Naughten made, the final stages of engagement across different Departments to finalise the actions are taking place at the moment. As I said, in the next two months there should be a finalised document. Furthermore, the communities on the islands are involved in the local participatory structures my colleague, Ms McDonnell, mentioned, that is, the local community development committees, LCDCs, and public participation networks, PPNs, and there is involvement through local development companies. They are involved in those structures in the same way other organisations and communities throughout the country are.