The Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Éamon Ó Cuív, has announced that he has sanctioned a grant of €38.9 million for Galway County Council to develop Cill Rónáin Port, Inis Mór, Árainn.

This is the largest project ever funded by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and it is being planned in conjunction with Galway County Council for the past number of years. The project involves substantial works, which include a 550m breakwater, the widening and upgrading of the pier to provide safe access for passengers, a new lifeboat station and a covered walkway and parking facilities.

Ó Cuív stated: “I am delighted with the recognition given to this development as a strategic project in the National Development Plan 2007-2013. The scale of these works demonstrates the importance of our islands in a national context.”

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Árainn is the largest populated island, with 824 inhabitants according to the 2006 Census. As well as that, thousands of tourists visit the island each year due to its international reputation as a centre of heritage and culture.

The Minister added: “I am very happy to see this development going ahead. The people of Árainn have waited many years for safe and adequate facilities, and through this development satisfactory facilities will now be available for passengers, cargo and fishing use. I have no doubt that the new port will greatly improve the island’s economy in the years to come and that the islander’s quality of life will be greatly enhanced as a result.”

Cathy Ní Ghoill, Manager of Comharchumann Forbartha Árann Teo stated: "Comharchumann Forbartha Árann and the Port Committee welcomes this great news. This is the largest project and the greatest expenditure ever to take place on the island and this is a development that will change life on the island and, indeed, the lives of the islanders.”

(LC)