Written answers

Thursday, 27 October 2022

Department of Rural and Community Development

Island Communities

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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117. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will meet a delegation from Inis Oirr to discuss the deficits in infrastructure on the island that need special support from her Department's islands fund including sewerage, piers, roads, electricity, water and so on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53739/22]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, responsibility for the maintenance and development of the infrastructure on the islands referred to lies primarily with the relevant Local Authority and/or relevant utility companies.

The Government's objective is that sustainable, vibrant communities can continue to live on all our inhabited offshore islands. My Department recognises that for this to be achieved it is essential that investment is made in the maintenance and upgrading of island infrastructure and therefore provides co-funding for a programme of capital works on the islands. This funding encourages Local Authorities to undertake these projects, which due to geographical challenges, and additional costs, may not otherwise be prioritised.

Officials from my Department would be available to attend any meeting that is arranged between the group referred to by the Deputy and the relevant Local Authority and/or the relevant utility companies to discuss infrastructural issues on the island. Requests for such meetings should be addressed directly to the relevant agencies.

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