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

I thank the Deputy for acknowledging my Department was the first one out of the traps on this, in giving the top-up to the Croí Cónaithe scheme. By the way, I think it is the best grant ever because I drive down the road now and see houses being renovated - some of them very imaginatively, I might add. The Croí Cónaithe scheme is doing a great job across the country. It is a great scheme and I support the Minister all the way with that. We had an opportunity to top it up for the islanders, and we did that.

I accept the islanders want more. I understand why because of the costs and all of that. I might have set a precedent here because people will want top-ups in other areas. I understand that. It is not easy to live on an island. I am thinking of the DPD van which leaves goods at the port. The goods have to get to the port from wherever on the mainland and then on to an islander's own place. These are all of the challenges we forget about sometimes.

The three-year islands action plan contains a commitment to review the cost of transporting the goods on cargo services. It will be looked at and will be done by the end of 2024. It is something we need to push, highlight and see how we can solved it and I am happy to do that.