Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Do I understand from the Minister of State that he will immediately seek to establish what it would cost to provide a service such as a service three days a week to Inishbofin in order we can have a realistic debate on real costs? Will he clarify whether he is ruling out or still holding open the possibility of selling this vital infrastructure to private interests? He seems to be leaving the door open to the sale of the assets, which I obviously oppose. Does he agree that depopulation is a challenge on islands? As the population drops, it imposes a huge cost on the State, as he knows. Does he acknowledge that the best way to keep people on islands is to provide very efficient infrastructural services for them? They are provided at a minimal cost to the State compared with other transport services around the country.

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