Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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44. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the role his Department can play in ensuring vital infrastructure is provided to the island communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65800/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government commits to ensuring that Our Living Islands - the national islands policy - is fully implemented to support sustainable development for island residents.

Our Living Islands is a ten-year policy for the whole of Government, backed up by rolling three-year action plans so that Departments and agencies across Government can be held accountable.

The Government recognises that affordable, frequent and safe transport services and a developed infrastructure are important prerequisites for maintaining island communities. Physical connectivity to the mainland depends on the availability of safe harbours both on the islands and on the mainland. Notable improvements have been made over the years through State investment in major pier construction projects, and these will continue over the life of this Government.

While my Department does not have a statutory role in relation to infrastructure development, it provides a range of significant funding programmes to support other stakeholders such as local authorities, local development companies and community groups, including funding for capital infrastructure projects.

My department's responsibility relates primarily to connectivity through subsidised transport services and supporting infrastructure development through discretionary funding to other stakeholders, along with overall policy co-ordination to support and sustain communities on our islands.

The National Development Plan (NDP) provides funding for major capital projects. I recently secured a record investment of €35.75 million for the Inis Oírr pier development project. I believe it is significant that this was the first project to be announced under the revised National Development Plan, demonstrating the Government's commitment to investing in our island communities.

My Department continues to fund an annual programme of minor capital works on the islands to be delivered in conjunction with the relevant local authorities. This work programme includes investment in areas such as such as road improvements, investment in piers and repairs to slipways. It also includes infrastructure such as helipads, airstrips and smaller capital infrastructure.

My Department has also introduced island-specific measures under a range of other funding schemes such as CLÁR, Town and Village Renewal, and the Local Improvements Scheme.