The campaign for a new ferry service to the Aran Islands is met with delays.
The daily air service links all three Aran islands with the mainland carries around 10,000 passengers every year providing a lifeline for islanders and a boost to tourism in the region. However, not everyone can afford to fly. The majority of visitors to the island still arrive by ferry boats like the Queen of Aran and the CIÉ operated Naomh Éanna. Between them, they carry up to 50,000 passengers and thousands of tonnes of cargo every year.
Aran Islanders now want what they see as the antiquated Kilronan service scrapped and replaced by a new high speed service from Rossaveal.
Representatives from the other islands yesterday flew to Inishmore for a meeting to highlight their case for a new ferry service. They believe that CIÉ is now dragging its heels in the provision of a new £4.5 million service for which the government has given the go-ahead.
Tarlach de Blácam of the Irishman Co-op spoke to RTÉ News about the report that the group had presented to the minister and the delays in implementing the new service with CIÉ opposing their proposals all along the way.
They haven't been prepared to take any of our proposals on board.
A firm of Glasgow based consultants have drawn up a detailed plan for the new service which they believe would be faster and more efficient than that provided by the Naomh Éanna. Their proposal is for a 200 foot landing craft type boat capable of carrying 200 passengers, up to 15 cars and four or five large trucks. The new boat would also cut travelling time to Inishmore in half. Using this vessel would require work on the harbours at Rossaveal and Kilronan, with the two other islands Inishmaan and Inisheer being served by a smaller boat which would be capable of carrying 50 people and two or three cars.
Pól Ó Foighil of Inisheer describes a new fish farm project which he believes will transform the economy on the island. However, he believes that the success of this project is dependent on the new ferry service.
We certainly are very disappointed with the delay.
Representatives of the three island communities were told that they still face further delays before CIÉ will provide the new service.
Colie Hernon of the Irishman Co-op says that they recognise £4.5 million is a lot of money but these costs will continue to escalate with further delays.
An RTÉ News report on broadcast 21 April 1986. The reporter is Jim Fahy.
