Baineann mo cheist le hábhar atá gar do chroí an Aire, is é sin cúrsaí oileánacha. Sa chomhthéacs sin, agus mar is eol dó, táimid ag fanacht leis na cianta ar pholasaí cuimsitheach do na hoileáin uilig ar chósta na tíre. Faoi dheireadh thiar thall, tá an chosúlacht ar an scéal go mbeidh an polasaí sin críochnaithe roimh dheireadh na bliana, dar leis an Aire, an Teachta Humphreys, ar aon nós, agus beidh súil ghéar á coinneáil agam go gcomhlíonfaidh an Rialtas an gealladh sin.

Bhí próiseas comhairliúcháin mar chuid lárnach d’fhorbairt an pholasaí sin agus chuir ionadaithe ar son mhuintir na n-oileán in iúl d’oifigigh na Roinne, i measc gnéithe eile, go raibh gá práinneach athrú a dhéanamh maidir leis an mbealach atá beartaithe chun infheistíocht a chur ar fáil do na hoileáin faoin scéim LEADER agus, go háirithe, go dtabharfaí aitheantas do na hoileáin mar réigiún ann féin. Is éileamh é sin a luíonn le réasún ó thaobh dáileadh acmhainne de. Is é sin an réiteach is ciallmhaire, dar le muintir na n-oileán, agus aontaím leo. Is iadsan na saineolaithe sa chomhthéacs seo.

Faraor, níl faighte acu go dtí seo ach an chluas bhodhar. Táim ag impí ar an Aire agus ar an Rialtas go n-éistfidh siad le muintir na n-oileán agus leis na hionadaithe a chuir in iúl go soiléir na hathruithe atá ag teastáil, go háirithe, má tá siad i ndáiríre faoi pholasaí cuimsitheach agus inmharthana do na hoileáin a fhorbairt, a fhoilsiú agus a fheidhmiú, bunaithe ar mhianta agus ar éilimh mhuintir na n-oileán.

In a week in which the Minister happily launched sustainable development goals in what will be an annual event lasting for a week, which I welcome, I have a specific question on the policy being developed for the islands. Finally, after a very long time, it looks like we will get this policy before Christmas. As part of the consultation process for developing that report, the representatives of all of the islands asked for a number of things. Very specifically, they asked that the funding model under the LEADER programme be changed and that the islands, altogether, ar fud na tíre, be recognised as one region and that the funding would go to them as one sub-region. Despite my best efforts and the best efforts of my colleague in Galway, Deputy Ó Cuív, and other Deputies, there is little hope of a change so far judging from the answers we have got. In a week in which we are talking about sustainable goals, tá deis aige anois beart a dhéanamh de réir a bhriathair and to do something practical to ensure that there is sustainable living on the islands.

Tá brón orm mar níl ach beagán Gaeilge agam agus ní raibh mé ábalta gach focal a thuiscint ach but if I understand the Deputy's question correctly, it addresses the issue of the future of our islands and how we, as a Government and people, can ensure they thrive. I will give a number of reflections on that issue. I had the pleasure of meeting Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann in the past year. I am very familiar with many of the islands as I spend a great deal of time on a variety of them, which I find to be a very rewarding experience. It is completely appropriate for the islands to get special attention and treatment because there are tremendous benefits in that in so many different ways. They are often a microcosm of wider Irish society and a place where we can test and see how we progress. My great hero is Richard Douthwaite, the great green economist, who used Inishbofin as an example. He said one can measure what is coming in and coming out and measure progress. The sad truth about our islands is that there has been a story of decline in population during many decades in the history of the State. I am glad to say that there are signs that this may be about to turn. We should look to encourage, accelerate and facilitate that.

Coming out of the Covid-19 pandemic, I note that on a number of islands where people are now able to work remotely they are starting to see that the islands are brilliant places to raise a family, live and work, often in different locations at the same time.

I support the Deputy’s proposal with regard to the LEADER programme that the islands be treated as a distinct region because they have characteristics that make them different to the rest of the country.

There are also very good and interesting examples in education, which is critical. On Inis Oírr, for example, I understand the secondary school has provided a great example that we could use on other islands. In many ways, if we were to work collectively together, we could have schools sharing resources and shared distance learning. That is critical in getting young people raised and educated.

One of the benefits of the islands is that they tend to have people who are very skilled in a variety of different ways. Island people have to be adaptable and able to turn their hand to different tasks. We could do with teaching the rest of the country some of what we call the island skills.

We could actually go to the islands and bring back those skills to the rest of the country in a way that would be very beneficial.

On energy, we have to treat islands differently because, with fossil fuels, it is very dangerous and expensive to bring such fuels out to an island and back. I was proud in my last term as Minister to double the grants that are specifically for retrofitting insulation of buildings. We have seen in places like Inis Mór in the Aran Islands a real success story, although it needs to go further, in terms of how community energy projects can work to improve housing, such as the example I mentioned earlier whereby we switch away.

My answer to the question is "Yes". These are áiteanna speisialta and we have to treat them in a different way. We have to work collectively within the islands to make sure we get the best schools, energy systems, transport systems and jobs. The Deputy suggested the LEADER scheme could be a path towards that.

On another day, I would enjoy reflecting on the islands but, at this point, we are on the policy and the policy has to reflect what the people want. I do not have the time to go into that. The urgency is to get the policy published and then get it based on legislation. Specifically, I welcome what the Minister is saying in regard to LEADER. If I hear him correctly, he is saying he agrees that the funding for LEADER should be changed to facilitate the demand, or if not the demand then the request of the islanders that the islands be recognised as a specific region or subregion rather than aligned with each county throughout the country. That is specifically set out in the representations to us. I clearly hear the Minister say he supports that, which I welcome. I am asking him now to do something about that. If he does not take action, the powers that be are going to proceed with the existing scheme, which does not recognise all of the islands as a subregion or a region of their own.

We are past talking about what the islands can teach us. We know that. They are a microcosm of how to do things right. They have shown resilience. What we need now is to do something for them in terms of policy, legislation and funding. The most specific way to do that, this week or next week, is to change the funding model.

My understanding is that the Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands visited Bere Island last week or two weeks ago. I will be honest and say that the members of the committee also need to advise, to recommend and to come forward with regard to the specific policy decision and what the approach is.

They have.

My understanding is that the Minister and the Department are considering that. They should take into account what the Oireachtas committee said, what the island people are saying and any further and other evidence that they can present.

I mentioned the experience I have had on the islands not to try to divert but to try to use that experience as I see it to try to inform that debate. As I said, I think we are at a point where we could very much turn the tide in favour of people living on our islands and that being an example and a benefit to our country. I very much support that.