Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 102: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will commission an independent ten-year plan for the development and sustainability of Ireland's offshore islands. [31710/07]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The Government has consistently demonstrated its commitment to supporting island development as evidenced by the significantly increased level of funding that has been provided for this purpose over the past number of years. This funding has facilitated the implementation of a planned programme of infrastructural improvements and the provision of vastly improved island access services, in close consultation with island communities.

My Department has taken a number of further initiatives recently to assist the formulation of future development policies aimed at ensuring the sustainability of islands and enhancing the quality of life for island residents. These initiatives include:

the provision of an annual administration grant to enable Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann employ a full-time manager, one of whose primary responsibilities is the development of policies in regard to the various issues affecting island communities;

the proposal by Sustainable Energy Ireland and my Department to jointly fund a pilot study of the energy needs and potential of the Aran Islands with a view to implementing sustainable energy strategies on a number of populated islands, and

the proposal to carry out a study of the cost of living on islands, including operational costs for island enterprises.

In addition, a major research study on significant issues that impact on small island communities throughout Europe has recently been completed by ESIN, the European Small Islands Network, with Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann as a lead partner. This project, which was financed under the EU's INTERREG Programme, has added to the body of knowledge available to my Department for devising and implementing strategies for the future development of the islands.

In light of the foregoing, and taking into account the ambitious proposals for the islands outlined in the National Development Plan 2007-2013 and in the Agreed Programme for Government 2007-2012, I am sure the Deputy will agree that the development needs of our populated islands are being comprehensively addressed.