Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Senator will appreciate that my Irish is not as proficient as his, which is very nice to listen to.

The Government recognises that our islands have a precious built and natural history and a rich cultural and linguistic tradition. These are valuable assets for the island communities and the country in general. The maintenance and development of sustainable communities on the islands have been the goals of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht for many years and substantial investment has been made to this end. The 2007-13 National Development Plan identified measures aimed at promoting the future development of the islands, including the development of the piers on the three Oileáin Árann as a flagship project. This work has been completed. Over ¤100 million has been spent on island infrastructure in the past ten years. This includes the cost of the redevelopment of Cill Rónáin Harbour on Inis Mór at a cost in excess of ¤40 million.

The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has agreed contracts for 20 islands to which passenger ferry, connecting bus, cargo and air services are provided by 24 contracted operators. School transport links are provided for students from Inishbofin, Inishturk and Clare Island who attend mainland schools. In awarding the contracts, priority is given to the needs of island communities. The timetables for these services that have been agreed with island representatives allow inhabitants a great deal of flexibility when going about their daily lives. Passenger and cargo fares have been significantly reduced for islanders as a result of these subsidised services. The standard of the vessels involved in the provision of these services and the overall comfort of passengers have improved considerably, mainly as a result of the subsidies provided. Expenditure of ¤5.93 million was incurred in 2011 to provide passenger and cargo ferry, air and connecting bus transport services for offshore islands under contracts administered by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. These contracts ensure the provision of regular access for island communities to the mainland at an affordable cost to island residents. Owing to improved access to the islands, visitors have greater options than ever before when choosing to visit particular islands, as a result of which economic benefits accrue to the local and national economy.

The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has a public service obligation contract with Aer Arann Islands for the provision of air services for the three Oileáin Árann. This contract will expire on 31 August 2013. The total cost of the public service obligation contract with Aer Arann Islands for the period from 1 September 2009 to 31 August 2013 is over ¤6 million. The exact figure is provided in the reply circulated. The contract provides for three daily return flights to Inis Mór and two daily return flights to Inis Meáin and Inis Oírr on weekdays, with four return flights at weekends. Additional flights are also provided, depending on demand. A separate contract is in place with Bainistíocht Aerfoirt Teoranta, a subsidiary of Aer Arann Islands, to manage the three aerodromes on Oileáin Árann and two airstrips at Inishbofin and Clifden in County Galway. The cost of the contract for the period from 1 March 2012 to 31 August 2013 is ¤540,580.

The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht appreciates the importance of this service for the residents of the three islands. However, account must be taken of the overall funding available to the Department for offshore islands. Approximately 60% of this funding is being spent on passenger and freight services to the three Oileáin Árann. According to the 2011 census of population, some 1,251 people live permanently on the three islands. This represents approximately 43% of the total population of the offshore islands. The Department will make every effort to ensure the funding available for offshore islands in 2013 is used to provide safe, regular and high quality access. It recently agreed a five year ferry contract for the provision of a scheduled ferry service from Ros a' Mhíl to Inis Meáin and Inis Oírr at a cost of ¤800,000 per annum. In addition, the tendering process has begun to renew the ferry contract from Ros a' Mhíl to Inis Mór which will expire on 31 January 2013. The Senator will appreciate that the 2013 Estimates process is ongoing. The Department has not yet been informed of its allocation for 2013. Therefore, no decision has been made on the renewal of the air service to and from the three Oileáin Aránn. We are very conscious of the preciousness of the islands' only means of transport.