Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is definitely positive but I will come back to the utter failure to progress the health centre on Inishbofin and the simple transfer of land that is no longer simple and is taking years. We know the population of the islands has decreased in comparison to the Scottish islands, where there has been an increase in population. The Scots have a strong policy for the islands based in legislation. We do not have such legislation. We have made a start with a policy but not the implementation of the policy. I and my colleagues from Galway, Deputies Ó Cuív and Mairéad Farrell, have pushed and pushed in relation to Céibh an Córa, An Caladh Mór - which has been going on since 2008; I will come back to that - and Inis Oírr pier, on which some progress has been made. Not much progress has been made since 2008 on An Caladh Mór on Inis Meáin. We have got past two stages. Again, we really need to see the reporting mechanism back to the Minister. From day one, she said she would keep a hands-on approach to this.

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