Press release: Minister Calleary Announces Funding of €3.7 Million to Support Offshore Islands
Preasráiteas
Dé Domhnaigh, an 12 Iúil 2026
Fógraíonn an tAire Calleary maoiniú de €3.7 milliún chun tacú leis na hOileáin amach ón chósta
Infheistíocht de €2.7 milliún i mionoibreacha caipitil a fhreastalaíonn ar oileáin Mhaigh Eo, Dhún na nGall, na Gaillimhe agus Chorcaí
Tacaíocht de luach €1 milliún d’obair forbartha pobail ar na hoileáin amach ón chósta
Oibreacha caipitil lena n-áirítear athdhromchlú bóithre, céanna/sleamhnáin, oibreacha cosanta cósta agus uasghrádú ar héileapadanna
Tá maoiniú de €3.7 milliún fógartha ag an Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta, Dara Calleary TD, chun tacú le pobail na n-oileán amach ón chósta.
Tá clár maoiniú caipitil de €2,740,509 ceadaithe do cheithre Údarás Áitiúil le haghaidh oibreacha feabhsúcháin, lena n-áirítear athdhromchlú bóithre poiblí, uasghrádú céanna/sleamhnáin, cosaint chósta agus héileapadanna. Oibreoidh na hÚdaráis Áitiúla i gcomhar le pobail na n-oileán chun na huasghráduithe seo a chur i gcrích.
Sa bhreis ar an mhaoiniú caipitil, tá maoiniú reatha de €1 milliún á chur ar fáil chun tacú le heagraíochtaí forbartha pobail ar na hoileáin, lena n-áirítear tacaíocht shonrach do Chomhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann agus do na comhlachtaí forbartha áitiúla ar na hoileáin i Maigh Eo, i nGaillimh agus i gCorcaigh nach bhfuil sa Ghaeltacht. Is ionann an maoiniú seo agus meánmhéadú de 4.5% ar 2025.
Agus an maoiniú á fhógairt aige, dúirt an tAire Calleary:
“Léiríonn an infheistíocht seo i bpobail ár n-oileán tiomantas an Rialtais do chur i bhfeidhm ‘Ár nOileáin Bheo’, polasaí an Rialtais dár n-oileáin.“Tacaíonn an clár oibreacha caipitil le huasghráduithe agus deisiúcháin riachtanacha ar bhonneagar bunúsach agus feabhsaíonn sé an rochtain do mhuintir na n-oileán agus do chuairteoirí araon.
“Tá ról ríthábhachtach ag Comhlachtaí Forbartha Pobail ar na hoileáin maidir le seirbhísí agus tionscadail laethúla a sheachadadh ina bpobail féin. Tá lúchair orm tacaíocht bhreise a chur ar fáil chun cur ar a gcumas leanúint leis an obair thábhachtach seo agus pleanáil don todhchaí.”
Tagann an maoiniú a fógraíodh inniu sa bhreis ar an tionscadal €35 milliún chun síneadh a chur le cé Inis Oírr i gCo na Gaillimhe, atá faoi lán seoil faoi láthair agus a bhfuiltear ag súil leis a bheith críochnaithe faoi dheireadh 2027.
Taobh amuigh den mhéid sin, tá maoiniú €550,000 curtha ar leataobh fosta don Scéim Feabhsúcháin Áitiúla (LIS) ar na hoileáin, scéim atá dírithe ar uasghrádú bóithre agus cabhsaí tuaithe.
Press Release
Sunday, 12 July 2026
Embargoed until Monday morning 00.01am 13/07/2026
Minister Calleary Announces Funding of €3.7 Million to Support Offshore Islands
€2.7 million investment in minor capital works serving islands off Mayo, Donegal, Galway and Cork
€1 million support for community development work on offshore islands
Capital works including resurfacing roads, piers/slipways, coastal protection works and helipad upgrades
Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, has announced funding of €3.7 million to support offshore island communities.
A capital funding programme of €2,740,509 has been approved to four Local Authorities for upgrading works including resurfacing public roads, upgrading piers/slipways, coastal protection and helipads. The Local Authorities in each county will work with the island communities to deliver these upgrades.
In addition to the capital funding, current funding of €1 million is being provided to support community development organisations on the islands, including dedicated support for Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann (the Irish Islands Federation) and the local development companies on the non-Gaeltacht islands of Mayo, Galway and Cork. This funding represents an average increase of 4.5% on 2025.
Announcing the funding, Minister Calleary said:
“This investment in our island communities demonstrates the Government’s commitment to implementing Our Living Islands, the Government’s policy for our islands.
“The capital works programme supports essential upgrades and repairs to basic infrastructure and improve access for island residents and visitors alike.
“Community Development Companies on the islands play a vital role in the delivery of daily services and projects within their own communities. I am delighted to provide additional support to enable them continue with this important work and plan for the future.”
The funding announced today is in addition to the €35 million Inis Oírr pier extension project in Co. Galway, which is currently under construction and scheduled to be completed at the end of 2027.
Separately, ringfenced funding of €550,000 is also provided for the Local Improvements Scheme (LIS) on the islands. LIS is a scheme aimed at upgrading rural roads and laneways.