Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am surprised that they did not group the questions because I had a very similar question, No. 138. I was on Bere Island, Inishbofin and the Aran Islands over the summer. The regression in policy in the past ten years is absolutely astounding. To be honest, the big plan of drawing up a plan is a time-wasting exercise because for example a health policy was developed for the islands and published with great fanfare, but nothing happened. Things have regressed on that also. Islands that had full 24-7 nursing cover do not have it anymore. What they need is not rocket science. Every time you sit down with the islanders they tell you straight out. As Deputy Connolly has pointed out they want roads, better ferry services, air services, health and education services and so on. Nearly every island is unique. Some are inshore and others are much further out to sea. Will the Minister tell me how much control has her Department exerted on the other Departments? Has she insisted that it is her island policy or are we going to get a copy and paste and we normally get with these comprehensive policies, from each Department, telling her what they are already doing, for example telling her what they are doing on planning on the islands, which is as she points out an absolutely critical issue?

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