The 19 families on Inishturk, comprising 80 people, were "shattered" last night on learning they are to be left without a mains electricity supply. Householders on Inishturk, nine miles off the Mayo coast, had hoped they would be next to be connected to the national grid.
Neighbouring Clare Island, which has a population of 137, and Inishbofin, with 181 inhabitants, are supplied by an underwater cable.
The announcement that six islands off the west and northwest coast are to be provided with mains electricity over the next 18 months in a £650,000 investment programme by the ESB has further angered the Inishturk community.
The latest to be connected to the national grid are Turbot, Inishturk South and Inis Mhic Cionnaith, off Co Galway; Islandmore in Clew Bay, Co Mayo; Gola Island, off Donegal; and Foynes, in Co Limerick.
Former islands minister Mr Eamon O Cuiv had said a connection to Inishturk was out of the question and the existing diesel generators would remain in operation.
Ms Mary Coughlan, who has taken over as Minister of State with responsibility for the islands, said recently the ESB still believed it would be far too expensive to run an underwater cable to Inishturk. But she said Mayo County Council proposed to upgrade the existing generator.
The Minister continued: "The ESB unfortunately have not changed their minds about Inishturk. It is very, very expensive. My priority is to provide electricity first of all to all of the inhabited islands and then perhaps, as the technology progresses, we might be in a position to look at a type of cabling or a different type of electricity provision.
"If we are to look at any type of industrial development we would have to ensure there would be power. One thing may marry off the other and as a consequence ensure that additional power would be there. I hope to ensure that we have on the islands almost the same facilities as on the mainland."
However, Mr Danny Kirrane, Inishturk manager, said the 19 island families had hoped they would be next to be connected to the national grid. He said: "We feel we are being totally discriminated against. It is most unfair that we are being treated in this way." The lack of direct power means the householders have no electric cookers or showers in their homes.
"Likewise, since there is no three-phase electricity, no heavy-duty tools can be used by the islanders. If someone has to do a spot of welding it means the whole island will be without power for the duration of that task."
Mr Kirrane added: "We felt we would be the next to be connected to the national grid. It would mean we could shut down the noisy generators once and for all. We are totally shattered. The lack of a direct ESB supply will have an adverse effect on tourism here, a sector which we are endeavouring to get off the ground."