Derek Nolan (Galway West, Labour)
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Mar is eol don Aire Stáit, tá imní mhór ar phobal Oileán Árainn faoi thodhchaí na seirbhísí aeir chuig na hoileáin. Faoi láthair, tá seirbhís laethúil ann chuig na trí oileán ó Aerfort na Minne atá á reachtáil ag Aer Arann faoin PSO. Tá an tseirbhís sin ann le 40 bliain anuas. D'fhógair Roinn an Aire Stáit go mbeadh seirbhís nua ann ó mhí Dheireadh Fómhair amach agus gur seirbhís héileacaptair a bheadh ann, ag fágáil ó aerfort an Chairn Mhóir, atá suite ar an taobh thoir de chathair na Gaillimhe. Tá an fógra seo tar éis imní mhór a chothú maidir le todhchaí fadtéarmach na seirbhísí chuig na hoileáin. Tá neamhchinnteacht ann faoi thodhchaí aerfort an Chairn Mhóir féin. Ní fada ó shin a cheannaigh Comhairle Contae na Gaillimhe agus Comhairle Cathrach na Gaillimhe é agus ní fios fós cad a tharlóidh ag deireadh na bliana seo. Mar is eol don Aire Stáit freisin, tá ceangal éasca ann idir an tseirbhís ó Aerfort na Minne agus an bád ó Ros a' Mhil agus seirbhísí áitiúla eile sa gceantar ach chuir an t-aistriú chuig an gCarn Mór isteach go mór orthu seo ar fad. Tá ceisteanna ann freisin faoi thodhchaí na n-aerstráicí ar na hoileáin atá in úinéireacht poiblí.

Tá todhchaí na n-oileán ag brath go hiomlán ar aersheirbhís fhónta. Tuigim gur iarr an tAire Stáit ar Aer Arann leanacht lena sheirbhís go dtí deireadh mhí Feabhra. An féidir leis an Aire Stáit insint don Teach anocht an bhfuil sé socair go leanfar ar aghaidh leis an tseirbhís ó Aer Arann go dtí mí Feabhra agus cathain a mheasann sé go mbeidh an cheist seo réitithe agus imní an phobail curtha i léig go hiomlán?

As the Minister of State is very much aware having engaged with the community, there is huge worry and a sense of imminent catastrophe that the critical air link between Aerfort na Minne, near Indreabhán, and the three Aran islands is under threat.

I understand the Minister of State announced a number of weeks ago that a new helicopter service would go from Carnmore in the east of the city to the islands. As he knows, a number of questions have arisen as to the viability of that service. Both councils are of the view that the future of the Carnmore airport is in doubt. It was purchased recently, but the current operator only has a lease until the end of the year and the plans for its use have not been settled. Therefore, the service that the Department announced as having won a tender seems to be in question. It was intended to replace a service that was operated by Aer Arann from Na Minna airport near Indreabhán for more than 25 years, one with an exemplary record and the trust of those living on the Aran Islands. It operated in a cohesive and integrated manner with the public. There was trust, flexibility, a relationship and a history spanning decades of good service, safety and crucial connectivity for the islands. As the Minister of State is aware, every service that is a fundamental of island life - teachers, nurses, doctors, repairmen to fix washing machines etc. - depends on connectivity, particularly via the air service. There is a concern that the air service will be lost.

I wish to ask the Minister of State two questions. I understand that he has asked Aer Arann to continue the service for a number of months. Will he update the House on that matter? When will we be in a position to sort out this mess - the process has shown flaws - and give certainty and comfort to those on the Aran Islands who desperately need this service to continue?

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis an Teachta Nolan as an gceist seo a chur síos anocht. Ba mhaith liom aitheantas a thabhairt do na Teachtaí Kyne agus O'Mahony fosta. Bhí mé i dteagmháil leo thar na seachtaine seo a chuaigh thart. Ní raibh an Teachta Kyne sa tír ar an gcéad lá - bhí sé ar a laethanta saoire thar sáile - ach bhí mé i dteagmháil leis achan lá. Nuair a tháinig sé ar ais óna laethanta saoire, bhí mé i dteagmháil leis fosta. Mar is eol don Teachta Nolan, bhí comhairliúchán cuimsitheach ar siúl le comhlachtaí maithe. Thosaigh an próiseas ag an am sin. I ndiaidh an phróisis sin leis na comhlachtaí, bhí cúpla moladh ar siúl. Níl mé san áit anocht chun an cheist a d'ardaigh an Teachta a fhreagairt ós rud é go bhfuil an próiseas ar siúl. Níl an cinneadh déanta. Mar Aire Stáit, níl mé freagrach as an gcinneadh atá le déanamh ag an OGP. Tá an oifig sin i Roinn eile, atá freagrach as an bpróiseas agus as an gcinneadh. Tuigim na deacrachtaí atá ar na hoileáin go ginearálta, go háirithe muna bhfuil an ceangal tábhachtach ann idir an tír mhór agus na hoileáin fríd an bháid farantóireachta. É sin ráite, chas mé le muintir Árann i rith an phróisis. Bhí mé i dteagmháil leis na daoine atá mar cheannairí ar na hOileáin Árann. Tá an próiseas comhairliúcháin atá idir mhuintir na n-oileán agus mé féin mar Aire Stáit tábhachtach. Thosaigh an comhairliúchán sin roimh an phróisis atá ar siúl anois.

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. Since the air service is the subject of an ongoing public procurement process, I have been advised that it would not be appropriate to make any comment on same or say anything that might in any way prejudice it or any appeal that might be made regarding the outcome of the procurement process by way of a judicial review to the High Court.

It has always been my aim to ensure a continuation of an air service for the Aran Islands. As required under the relevant EU regulation, my Department commissioned a comprehensive review of the need for a public service obligation, PSO, service to the Aran Islands in 2014. This review was published in May of last year. It covered the period from 2003 to 2013 and I am satisfied that it was rigorous in its investigations and fair in its findings. The review recognised the importance of the air service to the island communities and its contribution to island life. At the same time, the report recognised that the cost of providing the air service had increased dramatically by 136% during the ten-year period under review, that the efficiency of the programme had deteriorated over the period in question and that the continuation of this trend into the future was unsustainable.

Based on the report's recommendations and mindful of the need for value for money in providing this service, my Department requested that the Office of Government Procurement, OGP, as the agency charged by the Government with administering procurement services for the State, to undertake a tendering process in order to put in place an air service contract for the period from 1 October 2015 to 30 September 2019. Prior to this tendering process being undertaken, my Department met representatives of the island communities to listen to their views in regard to the service.

The tendering process was undertaken in accordance with the requirements of Regulation (EC) 1008/2008, which governs PSO air services. The Deputy will appreciate that, as Minister for State, I had no involvement in the procurement process itself following my decision that a PSO air service should continue to be provided. I am aware that questions have been raised regarding issues relating to the procurement process, such as the type of aircraft to be used, the inclusion of Galway Airport as a mainland departure point and the expertise of the tender assessment committee. I have been assured that proper and appropriate procedures were adhered to at all times throughout the process.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State. We are under pressure of time.

Derek Nolan (Galway West, Labour)
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Go raibh maith agat, a Aire Stáit. Tá súil agam go bhfuil a fhios aige faoin imní atá ar phobal Árann agus go bhfuil suim aige i dtodhchaí na seirbhíse aeir sa lá atá inniu ann. Caithfidh mé a rá freisin go bhfuil a lán obair déanta agam le mo chara agus mo chomhleacaí, an Teachta Kyne, i dtaobh an ábhair seo.

I appreciate that the Minister of State is restricted and I will not push him about details on which he cannot continue. However, I would like to chase up the point about the continuation of the service from the end of this month. Will the Minister of State update the House on whether there has been engagement between his Department and Aer Arann, the status of those discussions, whether he is confident of an outcome and whether we can be certain that, at the end of this month, we will reach a position whereby, while the details are being teased out through the process fairly, duly and in accordance with the law, the people of the Aran Islands will be given the service they require and on which their schools, sporting life, medical life and every facet of their connection with the mainland is dependent? This is the crucial point that needs to be clarified. The immediate concern is that there be connectivity at the end of the month.

In his good offices, will the Minister of State ensure that the issues I have outlined and that are inherent in the process are dealt with as quickly as possible? His office, the OGP and every party involved should keep the momentum going, get a resolution quickly and achieve certainty about the service's future as soon as possible.

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Fuair mé an cheist trí Bhéarla. Tháinig an cheist isteach in Oifig an Cheann Comhairle trí Bhéarla. Is é sin an fáth go bhfuil an freagra foirmiúil i mBéarla. Is í an Ghaeilge an teanga is fearr. Ba mhaith liom mo fhreagra a rá trí Ghaeilge. Cé nach mbeidh mé ábalta cur isteach sa phróiseas, tá sé tábhachtach béim a chur ar an dul chun cinn atá déanta fríd an phróisis, go háirithe ó thaobh cinnteacht agus leanúnachas. Tá leanúnachas tábhachtacht fá dtaobh den cheangal idir an tír mhór agus na hoileáin. Tá mé ag obair go crua.

Tá mé ag déanamh mo dhícheall mar atá mo chomhghleacaithe, na daoine san OGP agus na daoine i mo Roinn féin. Tá mé ag déanamh mo dhícheall agus ag obair gach aon lá ar an ábhar tábhachtach seo.

Mar a bhí mé ag rá níos luaithe, bhí mé i dteagmháil le muintir Árann. Táimse freagrach as ceantar na Gaeltachta, na hoileáin agus an ceangal idir na hoileáin agus an mhórthír. Táim ag lorg iarracht mhór chun dul chun cinn a dhéanamh anseo. Arís, nílim ábalta mórán a rá agus sin an chomhairle dhlí a bhfuair mé ón OGP. Tá próiseas úr ar siúl san OGP. Thosaigh an chéad phróiseas i 2014. Tá an próiseas ag rith comhthreomhar le mo Roinn féin agus tá an Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe freagrach as an bpróiseas. Cinnte ní bhfaighidh muintir Árann focal fá dtaobh den phróiseas nó a leithéid ag an am seo. Tá mé ag déanamh mo dhícheall réiteach a fháil. Arís, ba mhaith liom m'aitheantas a ghabháil don Teachta Nolan. Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil an Teachta Nolan, Seanadóirí sa Teach eile agus na Teachtaí John O'Mahony agus Seán Kyne ag obair go dian díograiseach ó thaobh an phróisis seo.