Fears for Inishbofin ferry service
Residents on an island off the Galway coast could be left ‘high and dry’ as the contract for the ferry service will expire at the end of this year.
It is claimed that the Gaeltacht Minister has not confirmed if this contract will be renewed so that a seven day service can be provided.
The ferry service to Inishbofin is the ‘lifeblood’ of the island which attracts thousands of tourists during the summer months.
But according to Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív, the contract for the ferry to the island was for a three year term only.
He said that similar contracts were always for a seven year period and he has now questioned the Government’s commitment to retaining this service.
The Government’s commitment to the ferry service expires at the end of this year and there is still no indication that it will be renewed.
It has lead to fears that there will be an exodus from the island if there is no full time ferry service available throughout the year.
“The short duration of this contract raises questions about the Government’s commitment to retaining a seven day service to Inishbofin.
“This service is of vital importance to the island, its people, visitors, service providers and the local economy. It must be retained in full,” Deputy Ó Cuív added.
Gaeltacht Minister Jimmy Deenihan said that there was a contract in place to provide a passenger ferry service between the mainland and Inishbofin.
He went on to say that his department subsidised 14 return sailings per week – two per day – all year round.
However, he added: “At the time that this contract was advertised, my department was of the opinion that a three year contract was the most appropriate, given the economic downturn.”
Deputy Ó Cuív is now calling on Minister Deenihan to clarify if he intends to continue the seven day service to Inishbofin.
“The Minister already refused to complete the airstrip on the island and on the mainland, and has decided to sell this important infrastructure.
“With the Inishbofin ferry service now in doubt, it would appear that the Government is discriminating against the Galway islands,” Deputy Ó Cuív concluded.