Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim mo bhuíochas leis an Seanadóir as ucht an ábhair fíor-thábhachtach seo a ardú inniu. As the Senator may be aware, the report of an interdepartmental co-ordinating committee on island development chaired by the then Minister of State, Donal Carey, in 1996 presented a strategic framework for developing the offshore islands of Ireland. This report made a number of recommendations to Government with the aim of supporting island communities in their economic and cultural development, preserving and enhancing their unique cultural and linguistic heritage and providing island communities with access to adequate levels of public services so as to facilitate full participation in the life of the nation. This report also recognised that access was the single most important issue facing island communities.

At that time, the number of lifeline ferry services supported by the State was very limited. There was undoubtedly a need for action to correct this deficiency, and over the years the number of services to the islands has grown. Now my Department funds 23 services to 19 islands. Included in these are passenger ferry services, cargo ferry services and air services. The budget for these services has increased since I came into office, and as part of budget 2016 the allocation available for these services will be increased again for 2016, from €5.9 million to €6.631 million.

In addition to providing transportation services, my Department endeavours to assist islanders and island life in other ways. During 2015 my Department reached an agreement with the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government regarding the funding for development offices on non-Gaeltacht islands. This funding enabled them to continue delivering vital services and to improve the quality of life for the residents of the islands. Through the increased allocation available to me for 2016, I will be providing assistance for these vital services.

Over the years my Department has improved harbour infrastructure on the islands and on corresponding harbours on the mainland. The largest project ever undertaken on the Irish islands, the €45 million redevelopment of Cill Ronain Harbour, a harbour of significant regional importance which handles in the region of 300,000 passengers annually, was constructed with major investment by my Department. While the capital budget available to me has decreased significantly, assistance is still provided to relevant local authorities for focused works on the islands, particularly directed to issues of safety.

As the Senator may be aware there have been issues regarding the renewal of the public service obligation contract for air services to the Aran Islands. I am pleased to announce that since earlier this week my Department has agreed an interim contract with Galway Aviation Services Limited for the provision of an air service for the Aran Islands from 1 October 2015 to 30 September 2016. Under the interim contract, the Department will subsidise the same level of service as it did under the previous contract. The Department, in conjunction with the Office of Government Procurement, will over the coming period proceed to undertake a new procurement process in accordance with national procurement rules and EU Regulation 1008/2008 in order to agree a four-year contract for the air service. Obviously, a re-engagement with the island communities will happen side-by-side with that process.

My Department consults with island communities on a regular basis, and I have visited many of the offshore islands since my appointment as Minister of State with special responsibility for the islands. In the last 12 months I have tried to go to the islands I had not visited previously. I have had the pleasure of being on the Aran Islands but I had not been to places like Sherkin Island, Bere Island, Owey Island in my own county, Tory Island, Inishbofin and Gola Island. I have tried to get to as many of the islands as possible that I had not been to before. Funding for vital access services to the islands has been maintained by my Department throughout the recent economic downturn and it is my intention to continue with this support in the future. However, I am very aware of the need to get value for money so that the funding available will reap the maximum benefit for all our island communities.

The Senator will also be aware of the need to comply with national and EU law in providing various supports for our islands. My Department will continue to adhere to the relevant regulations and guidelines while at the same time ensuring as far as possible that all island communities are assisted in their efforts to get the services that are sometimes taken for granted on the mainland.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadoir as ucht an t-ábhar seo a ardú. I thank the Senator for her remarks. We can all agree that our islands are a unique and valued part of our community. My Department will continue to support the island communities in their economic, social and cultural development in order to preserve and enhance their unique heritage and to enable the islanders to secure access to public services in order that they can have full and active participation in the overall economic and social life of the nation.