Boost for Mayo islands as minister launches Our Living Islands plan

THE Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, has today launched Our Living Islands, an ambitious new 10-year national policy designed to support vibrant and sustainable island communities.

Our Living Islands also contains 80 commitments under a three-year action plan with a real focus on improving housing and water infrastructure, better access to essential services in health and education, delivering high speed broadband, supporting remote working and further developing outdoor amenities and sustainable tourism.

Minister Humphreys also announced almost €2 million for minor capital works on islands, including €207,000 for two Mayo islands.

Inishturk is to receive €180,000 for road surfacing and drainage works with a further investment in pier improvement works at the main pier of €18,000.

For Inis Bigil, Doran’s Point carpark improvement works have been allocated €9,000.

Among the highlights of the action plan are:

* Additional levels of support through Croí Cónaithe as part of a major effort to turn vacant or derelict buildings on islands into long-term homes. Under this measure, the existing grant ceilings will be increased by 20% in recognition of the additional costs involved in construction on offshore islands.

* Vacant home officers will identify vacant and derelict properties on our islands.

* The government’s forthcoming planning guidelines for rural housing will recognise the unique challenges that island communities face.

* E-health pods will be piloted to give residents and families improved access to health appointments.

* Supports will be provided to remote working facilities so people can live and work within their own community.

* The delivery of high-speed broadband to island-based schools, digital hubs and Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) to ensure a reliable connection to the internet for both education and remote working.

* Supports for outdoor recreation activities such as cycling and swimming, and expanding the walks scheme to more island projects.

* Working with partners and government agencies to increase job opportunities, including apprenticeships on islands.

* Investment in infrastructure such as piers and roads, and the completion of the upgrade of coast guard stations of units servicing islands.

* Support the development of waste management plans for island communities.

Our Living Islands is the first whole-of-government policy for the islands to be published in 27 years.

The ambitious policy has been developed following an extensive consultation process with island communities and other stakeholders, which enabled them to express their views as to the challenges and opportunities associated with living on islands.

Said Minister Humphreys at the launch during a visit to Árainn Mhór in Donegal: “Our Living Islands’ contains 80 actions which are designed to support and empower our island communities and the people living there.

“As a result of delivering this policy, we will see more people living on the islands and more people working on our islands, with good career prospects, regardless of where their employer is headquartered.

“We will see islands contributing to, and benefiting from, the transition to a low-carbon economy and a climate-neutral society.

“And we will see our island communities, and especially young people, having an active role in shaping the future for their own islands.”