Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue.

As the Deputy will be aware, last June I launched Our Living Islands, the national islands policy, on Arranmore island, County Donegal. The policy recognises the challenges facing the offshore islands in relation to housing, which was one of the most pressing issues of concern raised by island communities during the public consultation process for the policy. Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann also raised it with me directly when I spoke at its AGM in September 2022. As a result, my Department held a number of bilateral meetings with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage during the development of the policy and associated action plan. I also met the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, prior to finalising the policy in order to discuss the issue and to secure housing-related actions and commitments for inclusion in the Our Living Islands action plan. Many of these actions align with the recommendations of the report the Deputy referred to.

My officials have regular engagement with Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann and met it most recently on 31 January to discuss a range of matters, including the housing-related actions in the action plan, Our Living Islands. When it comes to implementation, however, matters relating to housing come under the remit of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the relevant local authorities. I understand that members of Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann have recently met my colleague, Deputy Darragh O’Brien, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, to discuss the recommendations in the report referred to by the Deputy.

The monitoring committee for the islands policy, which will meet tomorrow, includes a representative from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, as well as six representatives of island communities nominated by Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann and I expect that an update will be provided to the committee on these issues.

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