Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I will be giving the reply in English.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

That is no problem. I understand a little bit of English. With the indulgence of the Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I note that the Minister of State is in her last week and I wish her all the best also. We have had a series of Deputies in one after another who are in their last active week in the House. To leave the House is a big transition for those of us who have become institutionalised.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I note to the Minister of State that I have never had any problem with people using English. I have always believed that the policy in the House on language should be the same as that in the European Parliament. People should speak in the language in which they are comfortable speaking. If I go to the European Parliament and do not understand the language, I use the translation facilities and reply, usually in English although I have used Irish at Council of Ministers' meetings. Obviously, I do not speak most continental languages and have always felt that it would be better for the Irish speakers in the House if we could normalise that code of practice here. On the other hand, I will be speaking in Irish on this subject as the Irish language media are very interested in it and need the audio information.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I understand that.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I dtosach báire, ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis an Aire Stáit as ucht teacht isteach sa Teach inniu. An fáth go príomha go bhfuil muid anseo ná mar gheall ar an tseirbhís farantóireachta go hOileáin Árann, ach mar is eol don Aire Stáit, bhí raic ann cheana, anuraidh, maidir leis an tseirbhís eitleán go dtí na hoileáin agus faomhadh réiteach gearrthéarmach bliana ar sin. Go deimhin, ceann de na ceisteanna atá agam inniu ná, cén uair a lorgófar tairiscintí le haghaidh seirbhís buan eitleán go dtí na hoileáin?

I láthair na huaire, tá fadhb ollmhór ann maidir leis an tseirbhís farantóireachta paisinéirí go hInis Mór. Tuigtear dom go bhfuil scéal thart go bhfuil socrú éigin déanta le Island Ferries go mbeidh sé ag leanacht ag cur na seirbhíse ar fáil ó Dé Luain seo chugainn ar aghaidh. Ach tá a fhios agam nach bhfuil léas ag muintir an oileáin ar chéard iad na socruithe seo. Tá éiginnteacht uafásach ag baint leis an gceist seo ar fad. Má tá duine ag cónaí ar oileán, is mar a chéile an tseirbhís bád nó an tseirbhís eitleán agus an bóthar dúinne atá inár gcónaí ar an mórthír. Go minic, ní thuigtear é sin. Ní féidir le saol oileán dul ar aghaidh má tá éiginnteacht ann faoi na bunsheirbhísí farantóireachta agus rochtana go dtí na hoileáin.

Tá dearmad mór déanta maidir le seirbhísí go dtí na hoileáin. Mar shampla, d'éirigh an fhadhb seo an t-am seo mar nár cuireadh conradh in áit dhá bhliain ó shin, mar atá ag na hoileáin eile ar fad agus mar a bhí go dtí sin in Inis Mór, ag deimhniú caighdeán na seirbhíse, rialtacht na seirbhíse agus na táillí cearta do na hoileánaigh. Ag éirí as an tsocrú nua a deirtear linn atá déanta, ba mhaith liom na ceisteanna seo a chur ar an Aire Stáit. Cén socrú atá déanta go baileach? Cén fhad a mhairfidh an socrú nua seo? An bhfuil sé i gceist socrú buan, mar shampla conradh cúig bliana, a chur in áit a dhéanfadh cinnte de go mbeidh seirbhís ag na hoileánaigh? Cén táille atá i gceist? Faoi láthair, i gcás gach oileán eile, táthar ag caint ar €10 do dhaoine fásta agus €5 do scoláirí agus daoine óga.

In Inis Mór, ainneoin gur é an t-oileán is mó uilig agus go bhfuil an lion is mó paisinéirí ag dul isteach agus amach as, bíonn ar na hoileánaigh €15 a íoc le dul isteach agus amach, agus €8 le haghaidh mic léinn agus daoine óga. An gcuimsíonn an socrú seo laghdú táille i gcomhréir leis na socruithe atá déanta ar na hoileáin eile ar fad, Oileán Thóraigh, Árann Mór, Oileán Chléire, Inis Toirc, Inis Bó Finne, Inis Meáin, Inis Oírr agus na hoileáin i gCorcaigh - an tOileán Mór, Oileán Faoide, an tOileán Fada, Inis Earcáin agus ceann amháin eile, Heir Island?

Ba mhaith liom a fháil amach freisin céard iad na socruithe atá déanta maidir leis an gconradh seo. Cé mhéid a chosnóidh sé in aghaidh na bliana nó in aghaidh na míosa? Cé mhéid a bheidh á íoc leis an tseirbhís a chur ar fáil? Tá muintir an oileáin fiosrach faoi conas go bhfuil an Roinn in ann íoc anois ach nach raibh sé in ann íoc go dtí seo le socrú buan a chur in áit.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his comprehensive questioning and for raising this important matter. While I am not sure I will be able to give him all the answers he needs, I will ensure that the questions he asked will be answered. It is a day for compliments and I also thank him for being so courteous about my lack of Irish. I really appreciate that. I am taking the matter on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Joe McHugh.

Great progress has been made over the past number of years in improving the lives of islanders. Deputy Ó Cuív and the Leas-Cheann Comhairle can both take some credit for that. Since the 1990s, there has been a basic increase in the number of State-funded ferry services. Of course, transport services have long been identified as having the utmost importance for island communities and various Governments have invested massively in infrastructure and ferry services to ensure that islanders could live in their own area. Currently, the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has 26 ferry contracts in respect of 19 islands and these contracts cover passenger, freight, bus and air services. The Department has spent in excess of €100 million on island infrastructure projects over ten years. Much of that expenditure related to the redevelopment of Cé Chill Rónáin in Árainn, which port is undoubtedly very important to the island and the region. Over 250,000 passengers, including islanders and tourists, use the port at Cill Rónáin each year. I am satisfied at this point that good infrastructure is available to the inhabited offshore islands and that good progress has also been made with regard to the development of sustainable communities on the islands notwithstanding restricted resources.

I will focus now on the matter of the ferry service to Árainn. As the Deputy is undoubtedly aware, the passenger ferry contract to Árainn, Inis Mór, came to an end on 31 January 2013. At that time, the Department undertook a public tendering process in the usual manner to agree a new five-year contract up to 31 January 2018. However, no tender for the service was received by the Department at that time. In the absence of a tender, discussions were held between the Department's officials and ferry operator providing the service to explore the possibility of a new contract on the same terms as the previous contract. While those talks failed, the service continued at the existing frequency. Again in 2014, the Department decided to seek public tenders in the usual manner for a contract to end on 31 October 2017 to coincide with the expiry of the contract with Aran Ferries Teo for the Inis Meáin and Inis Oírr services. One tender was received from Aran Ferries Teo and a committee was formed to assess it. As part of the negotiations, a meeting was held between the Department and the company on 22 October 2014.

Following much discussion, the company decided to leave matters as they were, that is, without a contract with the Department, and that Aran Ferries Teo. would continue to provide the service throughout the winter as well as the summer. The ferry operator was happy to continue the annual service at the same frequency without a subsidy from the Department.

The current difficulty arises from the by-laws to be implemented by Galway County Council at Cé Chill Rónáin. I understand that talks have taken place with Galway County Council regarding these difficulties. The ferry operator had stated that the service was to discontinue at the end of this month. The Minister of State, Deputy McHugh, held meetings with community representatives from Árainn and with Galway County Council and his Department was in touch with the ferry operator on a number of occasions. The last of these meetings took place yesterday, 26 January, and I am delighted to inform the Deputy that, as a result, agreement has been reached with the ferry operator that the service will now continue until the end of April 2016 and thereafter throughout the summer. The operator has agreed that he is willing to provide the same service as had been in place until the present difficulties arose.

In welcoming this development, I emphasise that it has always been the Minister of State's intention to ensure the community on Árainn has an adequate and regular ferry service throughout the year, winter and summer, and his Department's intervention has guaranteed that this will be the case. I understand the islanders in this instance are eager to have a regular and dependable ferry service and the Department will examine the possibility of assisting with the provision of such a service for the Árainn community in order that islanders can promote the sustainable development of the island and share equally in the economic and social life of the nation. It is important that our islands be supported and that their communities continue to live on them.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Bhí orm gáire a dhéanamh faoin gcéad phíosa den oráid a tugadh don Aire Stáit, mar ceapaim gur mé féin a chuir ann na seirbhísí breise ar fad atá luaite maidir leis na hoileáin idir 1997 agus an t-am ar fhág mé an Roinn i 2010. Go deimhin, chuir mé ceist Dála maidir le caiteachas ar infreastruchtúr na hoileán lá amháin agus níor tosaíodh oiread agus togra amháin de luach €1 milliúin nó níos mó ar na hoileáin sa gcúig bliana go bhfuil an Rialtas seo i gcumhacht. Caitheadh an €100 milliúin sin a luaigh an tAire Stáit, nó rinneadh socruithe an €100 milliúin sin a chaitheamh, i rith mo thréimhse mar Aire, ach níl ansin ach scéal thairis.

An áit a bhfuil an fhadhb anseo ná nach bhfuil conradh buan ann. Tá díomá orm nach bhfuil an tAire Stáit tar éis a rá go bhfuil i gceist conradh buan a chur in áit le déanamh cinnte de go mbeidh seirbhís ar phraghas réasúnach do na hoileánaigh ar fáil go hInis Mór. Tá sé aisteach gurb é an t-oileán leis an daonra is mó go bhfuil an costas is mó ar dul isteach agus amach ann do na hoileánaigh. Creidim gur ceart go gcuirfí é sin ina cheart.

An bhféadfadh an tAire Stáit dul ar ais agus an t-eolas a fháil amach agus a thabhairt dom de bharr na ceisteanna seo a bheith tógtha sa Dáil inniu le gur féidir an t-eolas a thabhairt chuig na hoileánaigh? An bhfuil conradh aontaithe le Island Ferries nó an socrú é mar a bhí ann cheana, socrú ó lá go lá, nó an mbeidh aon rud sínithe a chinnteoidh go mbeidh an tseirbhís ann? An mbeidh na rialacha céanna ag baint leis an seirbhís agus a bhí ann cheana? Céard iad na táillí a ghearrfar ar na hoileánaigh? An mbeidh an táille náisiúnta i gceist, is é sin €10 fillte do daoine fásta, nó an bhfuil i gceist faoin socrú nua seo go leanfaidh siad ag íoc €15?

Caithfimid cuimhniú ar duine a bhfuil clann aige a bhíonn ag dul isteach agus amach, nó cuimhniú ar scoil atá ag iarraidh gasúr a thabhairt chuig cluichí peile. Déanann an táille breise an-difríocht go deo dóibh. Ní bhfuair mé mórán freagraí nó ní bhfuair mé aon soiléiriú faoi chéard atá ar bun. Sílim go bhfuil sé thar am ag an Aire trédhearcacht a thaispeáint agus a rá go díreach céard é an socrú atá déanta aige. Céard iad na sonraí den socrú atá déanta aige ó thaobh táille, minicíocht agus caighdeán an bháid? An bhfuil an socrú sin buan nó an bhfuil muid ag maireachtáil le socrú nua eile ó lá go lá nach bhfuil aon chinnteacht ann go mairfidh sé?

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As I stated, the last of these meetings took place yesterday, 26 January. I understand that there is a lack of detail concerning the cost, but that is easily addressed. My reply was self-explanatory. I stated that I was delighted to inform the Deputy that agreement had been reached with the ferry operator to the effect that the service would continue until the end of April 2016. While this is not into the ever-lasting distance, it may give us enough breathing space to reach a more structured and concrete arrangement. The agreed service will continue throughout the summer of 2016. The operator has agreed that he is willing to provide the same service as had been in place until the present difficulties arose. I am assuming that this entails frequency, times, scale, cost, etc. The same service-----

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

There is a problem. The nub of the issue is whether there is a verbal agreement that does not include payment and, therefore, the islanders on Inis Mór will pay €5 more per round trip than islanders on other islands.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I understand the question.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We do not know whether this is some kind of understanding or a firm legal contract. That is what we are trying to find out.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I do not have that level of detail-----

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State to conclude.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is cynical of the Department to-----

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

-----but I will do my best to get it for the Deputy.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am not blaming the Minister of State.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I know.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Department is being less than open about its arrangement. Sooner or later, we will winkle the information out of it. Why could it not explain whether this was a verbal or concrete arrangement?

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The only commitment I can give the Deputy is that this type of detail refers to the gap between now and the end of the summer, which I assume will be mid-September to late September depending on how good a summer we have, something that is debatable in this country. I assume the time will be used to put a firmer commitment in place.

I do not have details on the cost, but the service is to be provided in the same way it used to be until the difficulties arose. I assume the cost, times and frequency will be the same, but I will try to get the details for the Deputy.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am disappointed. I thank the Minister of State, but it will be disappointing for the islanders if the service has the same cost. They will be paying 50% more per round trip than any other islander. This point seems to have been missed.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

When I mentioned the same cost, I meant the cost before "the present difficulties arose", which is what my speech read.