Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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104. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the decisions that have been made by him since March 2011 to tackle the issue of the high cost of living on the islands on foot of the socio-economic study done on the islands; the reductions in passenger and freight charges to the islands during the period from 1997 to 2010 on subsidised services; the increase in fares on subsidised services since January 2011; the new subsidised services initiated to the islands in the period 1997 to 2010; the services no longer subsidised since January 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28534/13]

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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It is a central purpose of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to support the sustainable development of the offshore islands. My Department has given priority in recent years to the development of island infrastructure as well as subsidising comprehensive transport services to and from the islands. As the Deputy knows, my Department has spent over €100 million on infrastructure projects on the islands in the past ten years, with improvements in island and mainland facilities as a result. The current funding provision of almost €6m million allows my Department to continue to provide subsidies to various transport providers that deliver ferry, cargo, air and bus services for the offshore islands. As a result of this investment in vital access services, the quality of life of the island populations has improved considerably.

The Department's aim is to seek to meet the requirements of island communities through current and capital investment by the Department and other relevant Departments and organisations. While the study referred to by the Deputy provides valuable information with regard to the employment needs and the economic development potential of the islands, it also recognises that decisions with regard to the establishment and operation of commercial enterprises on offshore islands are complex and that cost is only one of a multiplicity of factors involved.

The Deputy will of course be aware that the country has suffered considerable economic contraction in the last five years, resulting in a large reduction in my Department’s budget, including the allocation for the islands. Notwithstanding this budgetary reduction, my Department has been able to maintain the level of transport services for the islands, albeit subject to some small increases in costs for users of these services. My Department will be focusing in the short-term on smaller infrastructure projects on the islands, as opposed to any large-scale expenditure, while at the same time subsidising the provision of transport services in order to maintain and enhance living standards on the islands.