Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 145: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress to date in the provision of transport to islands, the provision of airstrips and the provision of connecting bus services as part of certain ferry and air contracts. [22729/04]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department currently subsidises 14 ferry services to 12 islands, as well as an all-year round air service to the Aran Islands and a winter helicopter service to Tory Island. Five of these contracts provide connecting road transport services on the mainland. I have arranged for a full list of these services to be forwarded to the Deputy.

I have also made available funding of just over €14,000 to Erris rural link to extend the ferry service currently operating between Ballycroy and Inishbiggle. When this extended service comes into operation, Inishbiggle will have a five day a week return ferry service together with a bus link each day with one of the nearby population centres, those being Belmullet, Castlebar, Westport and Achill Sound. In addition to these services, my officials are currently evaluating applications for a new ferry service to Inis Fraoich in County Donegal and for an increased level of ferry service to Inishbofin off the County Galway coast.

In regard to the provision of airstrips on the islands, I hope to be in a position shortly to approve funding for the construction of an airstrip on Inishbofin with a view to commencing air services to the island in 2006. Planning permission for a mainland airstrip at Cleggan, County Galway to serve Inishbofin has also been obtained, as has planning permission for an airstrip on Tory Island.