Senators call for islands to be united for LEADER funding

Senator Kyne explained that the islands have much more in common in many cases than they have with their associated mainland counties

“It is somewhat scary as we do not want another Blasket Island situation where people have to leave the island."

A campaign to secure a sub-regional LEADER programme for the inhabited islands off the coast of Ireland has received a fresh boost.

It follows a briefing given to Oireachtas members by Comhdháil na nOileán on the difficulties facing island communities where farming, fishing and tourism are the main economic activities. The call for a sub-regional LEADER programme was subsequently raised on two successive days in the Senate.