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

I thank Deputy Connolly for raising this issue.

As the Deputy is aware, the land on which the Inishbofin is located is currently owned by Galway County Council. These lands were acquired by way of a compulsory order by Galway County Council on behalf of the Department. Part of the site is intended for eventual use by the HSE for a primary care centre.

The transfer of these lands to my Department has been an ongoing process for a number of years. I understand there were outstanding legal and mapping issues but these have now been resolved.

Galway County Council advised my Department last September that the disposal of these lands to my Department had been approved at the council's plenary meeting. They further advised that the council's in-house solicitors would move forward with the transfer of title.

My Department has contacted the Chief State Solicitor's office about the progress on this transfer and it has advised that the maps have been agreed and it is now waiting on the necessary contracts from Galway County Council. My Department will continue to pursue this matter with Galway County Council in order to get the project progressed and finalised as soon as possible. However, as I am sure the Deputy can appreciate, any transfer of land such as this is a complex matter and can be a lengthy process.

In the meantime, part of the is being used by the Coast Guard as a helipad in the event of medical emergency evacuations. To further assist with such emergency evacuations, it is planned to install permanent lighting for the helipad later this year.

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