Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 71: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he or his Department officials have had contact with the Department of Finance relating to the proposal by the chairman of the Mayo Islands Committee (details supplied), that tax free status be given to the 11 non-Gaeltacht islands to encourage industrial development and stem population decline. [18166/06]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that responsibility in regard to tax free status designation rests with my colleague, the Minister for Finance, and is subject to European Commission regulations governing the granting of State Aid in EU Member States.

While I am aware of the proposal referred to by the Deputy, no request has been received by my Department to date from either the Mayo Islands Committee or Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann — the umbrella body for the islands — for tax free status to be granted to our offshore islands. Accordingly, neither my officials nor I have had discussions on the issue with either the Minister for Finance or his Department.

I would, however, like to draw the Deputy's attention to the new Enterprise Scheme for non-Gaeltacht islands, which I introduced recently. The purpose of this scheme, which is being operated in co-operation with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and relevant County Enterprise Boards, is to stimulate the establishment and development of a varied range of enterprise activities, thereby promoting the long-term sustainable development of the non-Gaeltacht islands.