Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In the Minister's original response, it is clear that whether by cable car or by boat, Cork County Council has a responsibility to provide access to the island. It is not acceptable to just cut it. Cutting it without consultation is not acceptable. It is the statutory authority that is obliged under the law, which we passed in this House, to provide access to that island for those islanders and farmers. We as legislators are required to ensure that the local authority carries out those statutory responsibilities. We expect that from local authorities. To do that without consultation is not good enough, which the Minister has clearly stated in her response. She also states in her response that her officials are available. She is also available to make sure that a solution can be found. She is not here this evening because she had a prior family engagement. I made myself available to take part in this debate.

I know that part of west Cork. Deputy O'Sullivan is right that I am no stranger to west Cork. If I represented that part of the country, whether south Kerry or west Cork, I would not find it acceptable to just cut a road or access to an island. It is not good enough. Those people, whether they are residents or farmers, deserve the same level of access, consultation and co-operation from their local authority, whether by a cable car, road or boat. They deserve a level of respect from their local authority. They pay road tax, rates and tax. They should have got a level of co-operation from their local authority and the fact that they did not is not good enough, which is what the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, is saying. It is the job of Cork County Council and it needs to do it. The Minister's officials will make sure that happens. They have to make sure that provision is made to get people safely to Dursey Island.

Separately, there is a planning process that runs in parallel to make sure that a cable car can function into the future. Separately to that, there is a group of people who have objections to that planning process. They follow us around in the Office of Public Works. We have to respect the planning process. I will take all of the comments that the three Deputies have made with respect to access to Dursey Island to the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, and I am sure she will reply to them collectively.

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