Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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964. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the details of the agreement specifically reached between her Department and the community on Tory Island concerning the provision of the island's new ferry service relating to the provision of secondary stand-in ferry services; when this service will commence; the duration of the contract in place for the provision of the services; the commencement and expiry dates for same; if the vessel utilised to service the route is licensed for the carriage of both passengers and cargo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30288/18]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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As the deputy will be aware, a contract for provision of a passenger and light cargo service for Toraigh was awarded to Réalt na Mara Teo for the period 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2023.  In addition to this, my Department has made funding available to the Comharchumann on the island to enable it to procure a supplementary fast ferry passenger service using a twelve-passenger vessel.  It has put in place a temporary service until 31 July 2018.  

The temporary service is a passenger-only service and the carriage of cargo is not permitted.  It is my Department's intention that the one-year contract will also be for a passenger-only service.  I wish to remind the Deputy that the main five-year contract for the island is for passengers and light cargo and in addition to this, my Department recently agreed a two-year contract for a dedicated cargo service for the island which commenced on 1 June 2018.  The cargo needs of the island are well catered for under these services.