Dursey islanders have welcomed the news that they are to get a temporary ferry service while their famous cable car is out of action for urgent maintenance work.
RTÉ News has learned that following intervention by the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, Cork County Council is to procure a temporary ferry service for islanders to run until the end of the year.
The local authority had said it had no plans to put such a service in place having told local county councillors that it could cost upwards of €200,000 to fund.
But following discussions this weekend, it has been agreed in principle that Cork County Council will procure a temporary ferry service for the island, to be funded by the department.
Minister Humphreys had been very critical of the local authority for its lack of consultation before announcing the closure of the cable car in February.
The council, however, said it had no choice but to close the service by 31 March following an inspection report received on 17 January outlining the need for significant essential work to be carried out on the 60-year-old metal pylons following Storm Barra in December, and increased metal corrosion.
Emergency funding is to be made available to the council to provide the service, which will operate on a daily basis.
Minister Humphreys said this will ensure that Dursey residents and the local farming community will continue to have reliable access to and from the island.
She said she believes a good deal of stress and anxiety could have been avoided if the consultation had taken place at an earlier stage.
"But nevertheless, the most important thing is that a service will be provided," the minister said.
"And I am pleased to confirm that my department will assist Cork County Council with the funding required to put this service in place."
Farmer Joseph Sullivan welcomed today's news saying he is very relieved and it will mean the world to islanders.
"We thought we were done for," he said.
"I know personally I haven't been sleeping properly for the last several nights and I know my neighbours have been quite uneasy too.
"It hasn't been an easy thing to face, but yeah there appears to be a light on the horizon, there appears to be a ferry coming for us.
"What we now need to confirm is, is it daily, weekly, every second day or what the case will be. But look, it is fantastic if we can get this. It will mean the world to us all, every single one of us here, it will mean so much to us."
Fianna Fáil and Cork South West TD, Christopher O'Sullivan, said the minister confirmed to him that the ferry service will be put in place to accommodate farmers and residents.
He said the news will come as a relief to farmers on Dursey Island during the lambing and calving season.
"The minister called me this evening to confirm Cork County Council has been given permission to procure a ferry service to accommodate farmers who have livestock on the island," he said.
"That service will be funded by the Rural and Community Development.
"While this procurement process takes place its expected an interim ferry service will be used.
"This is fantastic news and I want to say a big well done to the locals and the farms in particular who campaigned for this.
"I also want to thank Heather Humphreys who was landed with this problem at very short notice but managed to find a solution," Mr O'Sullivan said.
Independent County Councillor Danny Collins welcomed the news too.
He said: "Given the island will be without the cable car from 1 April, this news is very late coming but lets hope now that all the stakeholders, the department and the county council, will work with the people of Dursey and a suitable ferry service will be made available."
