Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy will be aware that my Department developed the two airstrips referred to with a view to commencing a scheduled air service between the island of Inishbofin and the mainland. However, due to the changed economic circumstances, a decision was taken in 2013 to dispose of both airstrips and surrounding sites.

I can inform the Deputy that the Office of Public Works, OPW, has undertaken a feasibility study at the Cleggan site of the possibility of developing a base there for an Irish Coast Guard station. I am advised that the OPW intends to seek planning permission for a temporary Irish Coast Guard station, with the possibility of a permanent station being developed at a future date. There are discussions between Galway County Council and the OPW on land for this purpose and land ownership. Obviously, the Irish Coast Guard is important. Only this week there was tragedy in the Connemara region with a death at sea and another incident today at Inverin consequent to which the Irish Coast Guard was called. I fully support the development of the Irish Coast Guard station.

Against this background, my Department has no immediate plans to complete the development of the airstrips with a view to making them operational, nor are there plans to provide funding for a regular service between Aerfort Réigiúnach Chonamara and the airstrips. However, I have asked my Department to undertake a consultation process as soon as possible on the disposal of these two airstrips.

Being new in the job, I asked the officials in the Roinn to engage immediately with the local communities to determine their wishes on the service. Obviously, the airstrips have been built. In his previous role Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív had a large role to play in this. I appreciate that. Local business people and the community were also involved. The long-term aim has to be to develop an air service between Cleggan and Inishbofin. As I stated, I have no immediate plans, but that is not to say I do not believe it should be done, nor does it mean that I will not take up this issue in the very near future. While waiting, I have asked my officials to start a consultation process that will take place quickly and not be prolonged. It is to obtain the views of the locals, be they in business, members of the island community or the community development body on Inishbofin or other interested individuals, to ascertain what they believe should be done.

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