Islanders battle to keep Aran air service

Axing the air service to the Aran Islands will threaten jobs and businesses and force people to leave, locals warned yesterday.

At a press briefing in Dublin yesterday, residents from the three islands expressed their fears for the depopulation of the islands amid speculation that the public service obligation funding to maintain its air service is to be withdrawn once the current contract ends in August next year.

Provided by the Department of Arts, Heritage, and the Gaeltacht, the funding amounts to just under €2m a year and provides for three daily return flights by Aer Arann to Inis Mór and two daily return flights to Inis Meáin and to Inis Oírr on weekdays, with four return flights on weekends.

At yesterday’s meeting, TDs and senators from across the political spectrum spoke against the removal of the service, which has been operating uninterrupted since 1970.

Inis Meáin businessman Tarlach de Blacam said the delegation had met with Gaeltacht minister for state Dinny McGinley last week to underline how damaging the loss of the service would be to the islands.

“We had a meeting with him last week and the minister Jimmy Deenihan also sat in,” said Mr de Blacam. “It was a complete change from what he had said earlier where the service was deemed some kind of luxury. He said he would look to see what they can do.

“I think he was surprised by the level of support we are getting about how important it is to keep this service. We have a big fight ahead of us.”

The islanders have made detailed submissions about the medical, social, educational and economic value of retaining the service.

In a lengthy submission, GP for Inis Mór Marion Broderick said it provided approximately 60 medical evacuations every year, as well as providing ancillary medical services.

“It has to be pointed out that the ferries have no role to play in the emergency medical transport of patients, and have never done so,” said Dr Broderick. “All of the personnel providing ancillary medical services to the islands travel by plane.

“There are numerous medical professionals involved. Many of these work covering areas of the mainland, as well as the islands, and it is not feasible for them to spend an entire day on the island. They need the plane service.”

The meeting heard local businesses, many of which rely on the 40,000 tourists carried by the service each year, could not function without a daily air service.

It also heard that the removal of the service made little economic sense. For example, the cost of having to use the Air Corps to provide medical evacuations alone would amount to nearly €500,000 a year, compared to little more than €25,000 currently.

“The loss of the service would result in job losses, disruption and possible closure of businesses,” said Mr de Blacam. “So many people depend on that infrastructure for health reasons, economic reasons, for their education. For many people, it’s not possible to continue living on the islands.”