Cutting air service will ‘depopulate’ Aran Islands

Any plans to remove funding for the 42-year-old air service to the Aran Islands could spark an irreversible decline in the population of the islands, it has been claimed.

Residents on the three islands — Inis Mór, Inis Meáin, and Inis Oírr — are planning a campaign to save the service, amid speculation that the public service obligation (PSO) funding to maintain it is to be withdrawn.

Provided by the Department of Arts, Heritage, and the Gaeltacht, the funding amounts to just under €2m a year.