Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Dursey cable car is more than just a form of transport. Fáilte Ireland uses it in all of its promotional material to sell Ireland across Europe. It is also, more importantly, a lifeline for the eight farmers who keep livestock on Dursey Island. Lambing and calving season is upon us. These farmers need to get across to their livestock. It is an animal welfare issue. Cork County Council has taken the decision to close the cable car on 31 March until November. That is almost 9 months.

Deputy Healy-Rae is absolutely right. When the cable car was built in the 1960s, pickaxes and shovels were used to erect the towers. I cannot understand why the work will take so long. I would love for the Department to work with Cork County Council to examine two things: one, whether there is any chance measures can be put in place to strengthen the towers for the next couple of months so that farmers can access the island during calving and lambing season; and two, which is absolutely vital, that funding would be provided for a ferry service when the cable car inevitably closes.

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