Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I represent Dublin Central but I want to make a contribution on rural Ireland and the islands in particular. I am fortunate to have visited and stayed on almost all of the islands, from Rathlin Island off the coast of Antrim to the islands off Donegal and along the coast of counties Mayo and Galway down to Cork. I will base my contribution on Oileán Chléire in County Cork which is the island I know best. I have been staying there for many years. There is a danger that we can romanticise life on the islands and only see it on the sunny day. There is no doubt about the physical beauty and special atmosphere of the islands. The reality, however, is that life on the islands can be difficult. I also have no doubt about the sense of community I have seen on Oileán Chléire over the years and the way islanders support each other and come together as communities in times when things go wrong and in times of stress and distress.

Life on the islands is dependent on the weather, which makes it crucial that those who live on them keep together. We see the principle of meitheal in action on the islands. Oileán Chléire has probably had more visits from Presidents than Ministers with responsibility for the islands. I am exaggerating slightly but the islands rarely get a long visit. I do not call coming in on the ferry at 2 p.m. and leaving again on the ferry at 6 p.m., or possibly having a special ferry to get the Minister out on time, getting a sense of the islands. Reports are all very well but nothing beats an extensive visit to an island, staying there and getting the lived experience of the community.

The islands have to be treated differently when policies and plans are being drawn up for rural island. That is because they are different, principally for reasons of access. All of us can make a decision to travel at a moment's notice. That is not possible on an island where it is necessary to work around ferry times. It can also be difficult to plan ahead because the weather might again intervene. Islands are much more susceptible to changes in the weather than we are on the mainland. Gale force winds, storms and rain will not prevent me going from A to B but it can affect islanders. It can also be problematic to get services to the islands. Policies and plans for rural Ireland, therefore, need a separate module on islands because of those differences.

I found it ironic when the Wild Atlantic Way was being introduced that there was no mention of the islands. It is an excellent and brilliant initiative. I know it was linking roads but there was no mention of the islands at that stage and these islands are surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean. That issue was eventually addressed.

Are we really serious about the development and viability of the islands? We know what happened to the Blasket Islands and what could have happened to Tory Island. Unless we are serious about doing something, the same thing will happen with the other islands. That would be a shame because of their uniqueness. They need people to be viable. They need to keep the people they have and attract new people, especially families. We know about the decline in population in rural Ireland but it is particularly affecting the islands.

Turning to employment, this is where supports are needed for island initiatives. I will give an example. There was an application from Cumann Iascairí Chléire for an aquaculture licence and foreshore licence. It was accompanied by an extensive environmental impact survey, EIS, document. It was sent to the Department last February and there has not yet even been an acknowledgement that the application has been received. The development of jobs and businesses is severely restricted on the islands. The information technology industry could be the saving grace for island communities to support sustainability and viability. Approximately 5% of the population of Oileán Chléire earn a living from online businesses, including translation, web design and language courses. There is huge potential to expand with reliable high-speed broadband. People could then live and work on the islands. Rural broadband is not just needed for people who have second homes or a holiday home in rural Ireland. If we can provide broadband to the islands, we can save a way of life and keep people living there. It would also be possible to have access to online courses and health and medical care online.

Moving to the arts, one initiative on Cape Clear involved storytelling. A storytelling festival started by a couple on the island 30 years ago and held in the first week in September is now an international storytelling festival. I ask that when the Arts Council is developing its plans and policies that it look at the islands in a different way. There is also a great deal of potential for tourism because of the uniqueness of the islands and the totally different experience of life that it is possible. The latest campaigns from Fáilte Ireland are The Ancient East and Ireland's Hidden Heartlands. Why can there not be a similar campaign for the islands? I see that the Minister announced an allocation of €150 million to Fáilte Ireland for visitor attractions. Do the islands feature in some part of that strategy?

Regarding Gaeltacht courses, the rules for mainland houses are one thing. Reducing the numbers who can stay in houses on the islands is having a crippling effect. No new houses are entering the scheme because the regulations mean it is not financially viable to do so. This is another area where there is a need for flexibility for the islands. The red tape involved is inhibiting.

I will highlight one issue. Planning permission will not be given to build a house on Cape Clear unless it is to be a permanent residence. That is fine but there is nothing stopping an individual, as is happening, from buying two or three houses as an investment with no notion of living in them. They are being left empty because this is a way to invest money. This indicates that the right to private property has gone absolutely mad. Why did the local authority not buy those houses and give them to people on the housing list? If it is a Gaeltacht island, Irish speaking families should be given priority.

During the appalling weather some months ago, the roads on Cape Clear were in an atrocious condition. I never saw such potholes before. The county council finally came to repair the roads two weeks ago. It is better late than never but that is a situation that would not be acceptable on the mainland.

I will conclude with some words from an islander. She stated that it might not be the easiest place to live but she could not imagine any place better. She continued by stating that the people who lived on the island did not believe that they were disadvantaged but they did recognise that they faced challenges unknown to those living on the mainland. That is why I am requesting that when a development plan is being drawn up for rural Ireland a special module be included on islands because the islands are different.

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