Ambitious plan could see more people live and work on Donegal islands

An ambitious ten-year policy which will see almost half a million spent on Donegal islands was launched on Árainn Mhór Island by the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys. 

The plan Our Living Islands is a policy designed to support vibrant and sustainable island communities. 

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Today’s announcement will see €292,500 spent on resurfacing Screig Link road and €58,500 on the road leading from Staca Mór Pier to Leabgarrow on Arranmore Island. Over €70,000 has been allocated to the playground on Tory Island and the boundary wall. 

A three-year action plan focuses primarily on improving housing and water infrastructure, better access to essential services in health and education, delivering high speed broadband, supporting remote working and further developing outdoor amenities and sustainable tourism.

The policy for the islands is the first to be published in 27 years. The new policy is accompanied by an Action Plan for the period 2023-2026 and includes 80 new time-bound actions which have been agreed with and will be implemented by various stakeholders, led by a nominated Government Department or State Agency.

Among the highlights of the action plan is a refurbishment grant scheme Croí Cónaithe as part of a major effort to turn vacant or derelict buildings on islands into long-term homes. Under this measure, the existing grant ceilings will be increased by 20% in recognition of the additional costs involved in construction on offshore islands.  Vacant Home Officers will identify vacant and derelict properties on our islands.  The Government’s forthcoming planning guidelines for rural housing will recognise the unique challenges that island communities face.  E-Health Pods will also be piloted on our offshore islands to give residents and families improved access to health appointments. Supports will be provided to Remote Working Facilities on islands so that people can live and work within their own community. There will also be a focus on the delivery of high-speed broadband to island-based schools, digital hubs and Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) to ensure a reliable connection to the internet for both education and remote working. There will also be a focus on increasing job opportunities, including apprenticeships on islands. The Government hope to invest in infrastructure such as piers and roads, and the completion of the upgrade of coast guard stations of units servicing islands.

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Minister Humphreys said: “Our Living Islands’ contains 80 actions which are designed to support and empower our island communities and the people living there. It’s all about improving housing, better access to essential services in health and education, delivering high speed broadband, and further developing our outdoor amenities, which will in turn increase tourism and support sustainable island communities. It’s about ensuring our islands have proper infrastructure in terms of water, roads and piers. And it’s about supporting island communities to develop remote working facilities, ensuring people can live and work in their own community. Our Living Islands’ is an ambitious ten year policy – recognising our commitment to supporting our island communities so that they have a bright and sustainable future.”

She said that as a result of delivering this policy, more people will be living on the islands and more people working on our islands, with good career prospects, regardless of where their employer is headquartered.

“We will see islands contributing to, and benefiting from, the transition to a low-carbon economy and a climate-neutral society. And we will see our Island communities, and especially young people, having an active role in shaping the future for their own islands.”