Dáil debates

Tuesday, 5 April 2022

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions

Island Communities

9:20 pm

Photo of Holly CairnsHolly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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71. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the steps that have been taken to address action 136 of Our Rural Future: Rural Development Policy 2021-2025 to, progress vital infrastructure development for island communities. [18305/22]

Photo of Holly CairnsHolly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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The Government's rural development policy for 2021 to 2025 commits to progressing vital infrastructure development for island communities. However, the Dursey Island situation tells a different story. Only after weeks of sustained pressure did the Department commit to provide a public replacement to the cable car during its temporary closure. The people of west Cork are rightly worried that this is a further indication of the Government's lack of commitment to support our offshore islands. What assurances can the Minister give them?

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The Government's objective is that sustainable and vibrant communities can continue to live on the country's offshore islands. For this to be achieved, it is essential that investment is made in the maintenance and upgrading of island infrastructure. To this end, I have increased the allocation available for capital works on the islands from €2.64 million in 2021 to €4.64 million for 2022. The additional funding will ensure an expanded works programme this year.

9 o’clock

It will include the annual programme for minor capital works on the offshore islands, co-funded by the relevant local authority. So far this year, I have approved works valued at €2.09 million for non-county roads in Donegal. My Department continuously seeks opportunities to expand its existing schemes to further enhance the infrastructure on the islands. I was delighted to announce last month that I was introducing a new measure specifically for islands under the CLÁR programme. This measure will give island communities and groups the opportunity to seek up to 90% funding for community vehicles and other community facilities.

The key island projects set out in Project Ireland 2040 are being progressed this year. These include three major harbour projects, namely, improvement works to piers on Inis Oírr and Inis Meáin in County Galway and at Magheraroarty, serving Oileán Thoraí in Donegal. These projects are all at different stages in their development and will continue to be progressed as quickly as possible.

The Deputy referred to the Dursey Ireland cable car. Cork County Council closed the Dursey Island cable car on 1 April 2022 for a period of seven months. The local authority had made no provision for alternative island access for the duration of the maintenance period. I am over time and will speak further in the supplementary answers.

9:30 pm

Photo of Holly CairnsHolly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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The issue for people on the islands is that while the Government says it plans to progress vital infrastructure development for island communities, they believe the reality is different. In the case of Dursey Island, instead of an immediate reassurance to those who farm and live there, the council and Department played pass the parcel. The Department provided funding for a public service because ultimately it was always going to be the responsibility of the Minister's Department. The community and public representatives, including me, had to fight for that. This is not an isolated case. Every time questions to the Minister's Department come up, Deputy Connolly and other Deputies, including me, ask about the forthcoming policy for the islands. Offshore communities have been waiting for years for that policy. It is ridiculous. Numerous questions about island infrastructure and access were tabled today. Does the Minister see why island communities are concerned about the mismatch between Government plans and Government action when it comes to matters such as this?

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I want to be clear about the Dursey Island cable car. This was a problem of Cork County Council's making. It made an announcement with no prior notice to my Department. It just said it was closing the cable car. I was pleased to step in at the last minute, last week. I was kept abreast of the matter. I worked hard with Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan and Senator Tim Lombard to find a solution. I provided funding to Cork County Council, which will procure a ferry service. It hopes to have an outcome from that procurement process in the coming days. I was not found wanting when it came to the islands. Cork County Council has a responsibility, when it takes a service away from people, to come up with an alternative. It did not engage with my Department, but when it did, we were able to work with it and to find a solution.

Photo of Holly CairnsHolly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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I cannot speak for Cork County Council, but the last-minute nature of the announcement was unacceptable. Weeks before the closure, I raised it with the Minister's Department. It is disappointing that the Minister is unwilling to acknowledge the frustrations and worries of the island community. It is an incredibly resilient group, but it needs Government policy backed with concrete measures to support it now. I have continuously pushed for investment in small piers on our islands and coastlines. They are vital infrastructure to support local communities, fishing, recreation, tourism and accessibility, but they are significantly underfunded. Every year, Cork County Council and other local authorities get insufficient funds to maintain and develop the piers. Some piers got welcome funding under the recent Brexit adjustment fund, but I could list many more in west Cork alone. What are the Minister's plans to prioritise investment in those small piers?

Funding was eventually put in place for the Dursey Island cable car. I am grateful to the Minister and her Department for that. I am trying to highlight that it took a long time. It was raised with the Department earlier. Will the Minister reassure those communities?

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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If you take away a service, you have a duty to put in a replacement. The council did not engage with us, but when it did, we got a solution. I recognise the work of Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan and Senator Lombard, who worked hard to find solutions.

Regarding what I have done for the islands, there has been unprecedented investment in the islands. I was on Bere Island in the summer. I attended a Cabinet meeting remotely from a remote working hub on Bere Island. I went to visit a glamping facility that received investment through the LEADER programme. I set aside a special allocation under the CLÁR programme which is specifically for islands. They can now apply for different projects that are funded under CLÁR and they are not competing with the mainland. I have also embarked on a number of critical infrastructure projects, which are going through a process. I will answer questions later about the islands policy, which we are working on, and also about piers and other island locations.

Photo of Marc Ó CathasaighMarc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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I thank the Minister.

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I have visited a good few of the islands and I absolutely understand the concerns of the islanders. I have been there and listened to them.

Photo of Marc Ó CathasaighMarc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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I thank the Minister.

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I saw the video about the concerns of the people on Dursey Island. We responded when an approach was made to us.

Photo of Marc Ó CathasaighMarc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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Whatever about the concerns of the islanders, the poor Chair looking at the clock is concerned.