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

Many of the actions the Deputy referred to lie with the Department of housing. However, I have engaged directly with the island communities and I know that housing is the big issue. If you are living on an island, there are additional construction costs for transporting materials. That is why I am keen, as part of our islands policy, that my Department provide the 20% top-up to the Croí Cónaithe grant for islanders. There are approximately 20 applications for Croí Cónaithe from our islanders so 20 more families will be living on our islands at some stage. That is good progress in itself.

On the report by Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann the Deputy referred to, there were a number of recommendations on areas such as approved housing bodies, planning guidelines, water and sewerage services. I have been in contact with my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. As I said earlier, he met Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann to discuss those issues. The Deputy will appreciate that I am not the Minister for housing, but I will be keeping the toes of the relevant Ministers to the fire, whether it is Deputy O'Brien or any of my other colleagues to make sure they deliver for the islands because they gave me commitments for this islands policy.

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