Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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567. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the estimated costs of starting an air service to Inishbofin; and the estimated full-year costs associated with running such a service. [37375/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, the airstrips on Inishbofin and at Cleggan on the mainland are currently unlicensed, and bringing them into compliance with the requirements of the Irish Aviation Authority would require significant investment to make them operational. This would include the provision of fire fighting vehicles, equipment and training, and could also require the construction of terminal buildings. Accordingly, it is not possible to provide the Deputy with estimated costs of setting up an air service to Inishbofin as there are too many unknown factors to be considered.

Similarly, it is not possible to provide the Deputy with the estimated full-year running costs of such an air service, as it would depend on a number of factors, such as the frequency of the flights, the number of seats offered, as well as the availability of suitable operators to provide the service. Ultimately, the open market would decide the cost of any service through a competitive procurement process.

My Department has no immediate plans to develop a new air service for Inishbofin. In the meantime, permanent helipad lighting is being installed at the airstrip on Inishbofin to ensure that the Irish Coast Guard can continue to provide emergency medical evacuations from the island all year round.

Separately, my Department is engaging with Galway County Council and the HSE to facilitate the transfer of a portion of land adjoining the airstrip on Inishbofin to the HSE for the construction of a new health centre on the island. My Department is also engaged with the OPW regarding the construction of a new coast guard station on a portion of land adjoining the airstrip at Cleggan. I can assure the Deputy that any developments being considered on lands adjoining the airstrips will not hinder the potential for air services to operate from the airstrips in the future.