Éamon Ó Cuív warns of 'astounding' regression in island policy
Éamon Ó Cuív criticised the state of island policy, saying services have regressed over the last decade and that fresh plans risk being time‑wasting. He pressed the minister to show how the department will enforce an island policy across other departments rather than relying on 'copy and paste' reports.
Main criticism
Ó Cuív said visits to Baird Island and the Iron Islands over the summer revealed that the regression in policy in the last 10 years is "absolutely astounding." He argued a health policy had been developed with great fanfare and published but produced no follow-through, and that islands which previously had 24-7 nursing cover no longer do.
Services islanders demand
He told the minister islanders consistently ask for roads, better ferry services, air services, health services and education services, and emphasised that nearly every island is unique - some are inshore, others far out to sea. He referenced Teachta Catherine Conley as making similar points about islanders speaking plainly about their needs.
Questions to the minister
Ó Cuív asked how much control the minister's department has exerted over other departments and whether the forthcoming island policy will be authoritative or merely a compilation of existing departmental plans. He highlighted infrastructure problems such as the pier on Inish ear and questioned how complex issues like that will be resolved.
Minister's response and commitments
The minister said he has taken a keen interest in the islands, has visited Bear Island and Arranmore (twice this year) and opened a new seafront facility funded under the rural regeneration fund in conjunction with Donegal County Council. He said extensive consultation and bilateral meetings with 13 government departments, local authorities and other bodies have taken place, and pledged to nail down clear objectives and actions and hold departments to account.
Next steps and challenges
Both speaker and minister acknowledged the complexity of island problems and the need for actionable commitments. Ó Cuív pressed for tangible delivery on services rather than further exercises, while the minister promised a meaningful written policy with enforceable actions.
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Minister, I have to say we were out in Baird Island, I was out in the Iron Islands over the summer and the regression in policy in the last 10 years is absolutely astounding and to be quite honest I think that the big plan of drawing up a plan is more a time-wasting exercise because for example there was a health policy developed for the islands with great banfare and published but nothing happened, things have regressed there as well, islands that had full 24-7 cover and nurses don't have it anymore, this isn't rocket science what they need and every time you sit down with the islanders they tell you straight out as Teachta Catherine Conley has pointed out they want roads, they want better ferry services, they want air services, they want health services, they want education services and so on and nearly every island is unique because some of them are very inshore, some are much further out into the ocean. Minister, can I ask you how much control have your department exerted on the other departments and have you insisted that it's your island policy or are we going to get a copy and paste as we normally get with these comprehensive policies from each department telling you what they're already doing and for example telling you what they're doing and planning on islands which is as you point out an absolutely critical issue on the islands. Minister, Goera Macagot. Goera Macagot. Well I think Deputy you will agree that I have taken a keen interest in the islands and I have taken the trouble and I know you are a regular visitor to them yourself, I have been on Bear Island, I have been on Arranmore twice this year already and one of the visits was to open a wonderful new seafront facility for the islanders there, huge investment under the rural regeneration fund in conjunction with Donegal County Council. And can I just say I am personally committed to making sure that we deliver on this island policy but there's no point in having a document if I don't nail down other departments that they have to deliver and I mean that and I will do that. And I will make sure that whenever the document comes, there's been a lot of consultation on it, I will make sure whenever it comes that it's a meaningful document with very clear objectives and actions to back up those objectives and that's what I want to achieve. Because it's not easy living on an island and I know Deputy Connolly refers to the Inish ear and the difficulties there around the pier and the simulation that's going on in Cork. And I know, as I said the last time, it comes up every time in questions here, if I could do it myself I would do it because God knows I am sick looking at wondering when it's going to move on. Like how many times do you have to create this exercise before you start to get, sorry, Inish ear is the first one I was on, Inish man's second one, sorry about that. But how many, how many times do you have to do this or how long does it take to develop it? But I suppose this pier was repaired many, many years ago, you'll know much more about it than I do. It doesn't work, so now it's how can we make it better and it is complex. So can I just say significant consultation has been undertaken with island communities and there's been wide consultation with the government department and agencies. And bilateral meetings have been held with 13 government departments and other relevant bodies such as local authorities and others in the Gaelthe. And can I just say that good progress has been made, but I'm going to make sure that we have it in writing and I will hold them to account. ..with that idea after that. Thank you. That's a good question. Now, someone with the MiG
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