Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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I complement the excellent work done by the Defence Forces, particularly in my constituency in Galway. During the recent flooding there, they brought many kids to school and they helped out a lot. I do not know if the Minister of State is aware - I will bring it to his attention - that the ferry service to the Aran Islands is due to be withdrawn, I think as of tomorrow. I do not know if the Minister of State, Seán Kyne, has met Deputy Kehoe on the matter, but according to the Aran islanders, the Army might even have to be used to bring groceries and heavy, bulky goods to the Aran Islands because there will be no ferry service. Is the Army in a position to provide such a service to keep the islanders alive? If the ferry services go, there will be no access to provide a service to the island that the islanders badly need, and the Army or the Naval Service is being mentioned as potential providers of such a service. Is the Department equipped to do something like that?