Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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72. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the strategy she has for Gaeltacht island communities [40664/24]

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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I want to get an update on the strategy for Gaeltacht and island communities. Deputy Ó Laoghaire tabled this question because a lot of people who live on the islands are that bit apart from the rest and certainly need extra investment, especially with communications, transport facilities and ways of making sure they are connected and have opportunities equal to those who live on the mainland. Many of our Gaeltacht communities are also under huge stress. We are looking forward to the publication of the planning guidelines for rural areas and Gaeltacht areas, which has been promised for so long and has not happened. That is one of the key things we need to get delivered.

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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Our Living Islands: National Island Policy 2023-2033 was launched in June of last year on the Gaeltacht island of Árainn Mhór, County Donegal. Our Living Islands is a substantial document; a ten-year policy backed up by rolling three-year action plans.

It has time-bound commitments so that Departments and agencies across Government can be held to account for its implementation. The policy serves the communities of all our populated offshore islands, both Gaeltacht and non-Gaeltacht.

The Irish language is an essential part of community identity and heritage on a significant number of our populated offshore islands, especially the Gaeltacht islands. Statutory responsibility for the Irish language and the Gaeltacht rests with the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. That Department was represented on the interdepartmental committee which oversaw the development of the national islands policy and action plan.

Our Living Islands is a policy for the whole of Government. My Department's responsibility for the islands relates primarily to connectivity through subsidised transport services and supporting infrastructure development, along with overall policy co-ordination to support and sustain communities on our islands.

My Department chairs the monitoring committee, which was formed to oversee the implementation of Our Living Islands. There are seven islanders on this committee, three from the non-Gaeltacht islands, three from Gaeltacht islands, a representative of Comhar na nOileán, the local development company for the islands, and a representative from Údarás na Gaeltachta. The monitoring committee continues to engage with key Departments and State bodies on progress with the implementation of the action plan. It is due to have its next meeting later this morning.

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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Income is an issue for people living on many of the islands. They must have an opportunity to make an income. They are surrounded by the sea and, for many of them, fishing is one of the few ways they have to get an income. Many of the small fishing communities that live on the islands have great problems in getting quota, in particular for the inshore sector. There must be a focus on that to ensure they can get a fair share and get an income.

That issue also relates to infrastructure and piers. The Minister of State mentioned piers. Many of the piers on the islands are in a deplorable state and need a lot of investment as well.

Housing is also a difficulty. I suggest the Minister of State speaks to the Minister about the planning guidelines to ensure they are published as quickly as possible so that we can get clarity and that they provide hope for the future. The people who live on the islands, like people who live in most rural and Gaeltacht communities, want to see their children come back and to have families in the area where they live, go to school where they went to school, play for their local football club and be involved in the local community. They do not have that opportunity if they cannot have a home or an income and livelihood in the area. They are the key elements that must be put in place. As part of that, the Government must invest in infrastructure and create opportunities for people on the islands and in Gaeltacht regions.

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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I am happy to take back the Deputy's request for an update on the expected publication date of the planning guidelines. There are specific housing incentive supports for the islands, including to address dereliction. My Department provides subsidies for additional transport costs involved for islanders. That was reviewed during the cost-of-living crisis and in some cases it was increased as well. Údarás na Gaeltachta has been identified as the lead key body or joint stakeholder for a number of actions. It is also represented on the monitoring committee.

It is worth pointing out some of the policy measures that we have in place. For example, local enterprise offices in Údarás na Gaeltachta and other enterprise agencies work with local development companies and co-operatives on the islands to ensure island-based enterprises have access to a full range of supports, including expert mentors to assist them in reaching wider markets. We have a set of measures and each one of them is looked at through the Gaeltacht lens as well, with the assistance of Údarás na Gaeltachta.

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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I commend Údarás na Gaeltachta, a body that has done tremendous work. It has been a shining example of what can be achieved when proper investment is made in an area or sector. Such bodies can deliver and not just pay for themselves but give rise to a multiplier effect in rural communities. They generally work in Gaeltacht regions.

The other issue that must be addressed is tourism. The islands have a unique tourism offering that must be developed. More assistance must be put in place to ensure a tourism offering is put in place on islands and in Gaeltacht regions. We have an opportunity in that regard. We made some advances through the marketing of the Wild Atlantic Way by Bord Fáilte, but a lot more could be done. Tourism on the islands in particular is something that must be examined. This comes back to having adequate infrastructure in place to get people safely to and from the islands. Investment is also required on the islands. When we talk about rural communities that have been left behind, island communities have been left further behind than anywhere else. For that reason, we must focus on putting the investment in place for the infrastructure to properly develop the islands.

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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I fully agree with the Deputy. We must protect the islands and bring life back into them. They are a part of our national identity as well. I very much agree with his point on tourism, which is more developed on some islands than others. I was on the Aran Islands last summer, where tourism is very well developed. I was more recently on Cape Clear in Cork as well. We have made some very important tourism commitments. One of them is to assess the feasibility of developing new coastal walking trails and cycling routes to promote walking and cycling as part of the island experience. There is a policy measure to encourage water sports providers on the islands and to examine the feasibility of establishing new activity-based experiences that positively contribute to sustainable economic development and environmental conservation. Examples of that include sea tours, angling, kayaking, scuba diving and so on. There is also a commitment to investigate the opportunity for dark sky accreditation for the islands and to pursue astrotourism. We are very aware of the potential for tourism on the islands and we have commitments in that regard.