Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is nearly six weeks since I first raised the Dursey cable car crisis with the Taoiseach in the Dáil. Since then, I have raised it with the Tánaiste; the Minister, Deputy Humphreys; and the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, among others, in trying to find a solution before the world-famous Dursey cable car ceases operations this Thursday evening for 240 days due to the urgent repairs to be carried out on the towers following storm damage. This is a cable car, I may add, opened by the then Taoiseach, Jack Lynch, in 1969. As we stand right now, on Friday morning of this week islanders, farmers who have land on the islands and holidaymakers will not have a service of any type from the island to the mainland or from the mainland to the island.

A proposal from the local authority for funding for a temporary ferry service was made to the Department of Rural and Community Development at the end of last week for the 240 days the cable car will be out of operation. I fully respect that the Taoiseach would not have had the time to hear of these proposals but, for the sake of the residents, farmers and tourists who visit the world-famous Dursey Island and the Beara Peninsula, will the Taoiseach meet with the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, and find the funding to secure a ferry service to the island by this Thursday?

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