The adoption by the Government of a strategic framework for the development of our 21 offshore islands is to be welcomed. For too long the needs of these island communities have been neglected by central government and their potential for development ignored. The report doesn't offer any panaceas for these problems: just new levels of official co operation with local communities through Comhdhail Oileain na hEireann; some co ordinated planning and limited Government and EU funding.
In the words of the Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, the initiative represents a "first step" in addressing the "sense of neglect" that island people experience in relation to central government. It also provides specific means of addressing the common shortcomings of island communities. Chief of these is the high cost of transport, poor ferry services and inadequate harbours.
The Minister of State for Western Development, Mr Donal Carey, has provided a sum of £1 million to begin a programme of works - based on priority needs - for those islands which lack suitable access vessels and landing facilities. It is a minuscule, even derisory, amount of money in terms of present needs. But it is £1 million more than was provided last year and - as a gesture of good faith - it is to be welcomed. Any transport services are to be provided at local level, following consultation with islanders, and there will be an agreed level of subsidy.
The capital development requirements of these islands is very large if mainland standards are to be met. And it is clear from the report that the traditional Government approach is changing. It rejects the notion that the economic and social development of the islands can be dealt with purely on efficiency grounds. In addition, it says: " the general social policy goal of reducing inequalities in incomes and opportunities applies as much to any gap between island and mainland communities as it does to rural and urban communities or to any currently marginalised or excluded groups in society."
The second thrust of the Government's approach is provided through EU funded, Leader II, rural development programmes. A little more than £1 million in funding will be provided to island projects this year and Minister of State, Mr Jimmy Deenihan, promised a partisan hearing for other projects in a funding pool of £18 million.
Local authorities have been given special responsibilities to draw up plans for the development of their island communities. The Departments of Education, Environment, Agriculture, Energy, and Social Welfare, have been drawn into the net. And annual reports on progress must be made to the Government for the next three years. It is a useful start. The local communities are at last being given a voice. More importantly, they are being given an opportunity to plan their own futures and select their own economic priorities. Even if officialdom still dictates the pace of change and the level of public funding that will be made available, the door to a viable future for island communities is at last beginning to open.