Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Two weeks ago, I met with fishers from Inis Oírr who raised two key issues with me. First, they are deeply concerned at having to weigh the shellfish when they land it on Inis Oírr. There is no account taken of damage to, or incidental loss of, the catch before it travels back again by sea to the factories. The other key issue is the pier on Inis Oírr, which not only impacts fishers but the entire island community, which is one of the coastal communities we are discussing today. Since I was elected to represent the Galway West constituency a year ago, I have been shocked by how island communities have been completely forgotten and neglected in almost every aspect. Inis Oírr is a very good example of that neglect by successive Governments.

I want to describe the hazardous nature of the pier on Inis Oírr for the benefit of the Minister, Deputies and any media representatives who are here. If people were aware of how bad it is, there would uproar. At the start of this year, videos were circulated, mainly in the Irish language media, of waves crashing over the pier wall, the force of which broke the lights on the pier. One can imagine how dangerous it would have been if people had been on the pier. The weather was bad but not that bad. The damage meant the pier had to be closed and the boats could not dock, which not only impacted the people of Inis Oírr but also the people of Inis Meáin because the two islands share the same doctor. Three mornings a week, the doctor from Inis Oírr goes over to Inis Meáin, which he could not do on this occasion.

The redevelopment of the pier on Inis Oírr was contained in the Government's 2015 capital investment plan, Building on Recovery: Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2016-2021. Six years since it was promised, it is yet to happen. There was good news with the announcement the pier was finally getting the go-ahead but that was followed by further delay, with no clarity as to when the project will go to tender. It is unfair that the islanders are being left in the dark again. Will the Minister look at this issue and try to push it forward?

Táim díreach chun ceist Chéibh Inis Oírr a ardú leis an Aire. Táim tar éis an cheist seo a ardú sa Seomra seo go rímhinic ó toghadh mé bliain ó shin. Tugtar neamhaird iomlán ar na hoileáin. Dá mba rud é go raibh píosa infreastruchtúir chomh criticiúil is atá céibh i gcomhair oileáin sa ndrochchaoi chéanna is atá Céibh Inis Oírr i gceantar rachmasach i mBaile Átha Cliath tharraingeodh sé raic agus bheadh sé réitithe ag an Rialtas láithreach. Tá an chéibh seo á gealladh ó 2015. Is sé bliana ó shin é sin. Bhí dea-scéal ann le gairid go mbeadh an chéibh ag dul amach go tairiscint ach tá an chosúlacht ar an scéal go mbeadh moill eile ag baint leis. Níl sé soiléir cén t-am go díreach go mbeidh sé ag dul amach go tairiscint. Tá faitíos ann nach mbeidh an próiseas ar fad críochnaithe roimh an Nollaig. Níl sé féaráilte go mbeadh muintir Inis Oírr fágtha sa ndorchadas arís eile. Tá práinn ag baint le forbairt na céibhe. Tá sé fíordhainséarach ach ní féidir le muintir Inis Oírr dul trí gheimhreadh eile gan forbairt ar bith ar an gcéibh. Caithfidh an Rialtas breathnú ar bhealach inar féidir é seo a bhrú ar aghaidh.

Is rud eile gur mhaith liom a ardú leis an Aire ná na srianta uisce atá curtha i bhfeidhm arís thar oíche i mbliana. D'ardaigh mé an fhadhb sin anuraidh ach níl tada déanta faoi. Táimid i lár paindéime, áit a ndeirtear linn go gcaithfidh daoine a gcuid lámha a ní ach níl uisce ann i gcomhair mhuintir na n-oileán thar oíche. Tá sé iomlán dochreidte. Níl mé in ann freagra ar bith a fháil maidir le cén plean atá ann chun réiteach a fháil ar an gceist sin.

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