Irish Water has submitted a series of planning applications to Galway County Council in a bid to ease chronic water shortages on two of the Aran Islands.

Gaeltacht Minister Joe McHugh insisted yesterday that no final decision had been made and no contract signed for the controversial air service to the Aran Islands.

Residents of the Aran Islands have promised a “massive” campaign of resistance to the withdrawal of the air service contract from Aer Árann.