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€104,500 sanctioned by Minister of State Joe McHugh for the provision of a heavy cargo service for Tory Island


Minister of State for the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Islands, Joe McHugh T.D., has today announced the sanction of a grant of €104,500 for Comharchumann Thoraí for the provision of a heavy cargo service for Tory Island for the period 2018 – 2020. The service being provided by Cara na nOileán Teo. will last from June 1 2018 to 31 May 2020. Under the arrangement, up to 38 heavy cargo sailings will be provided to the island per annum.

Minister of State McHugh said he was delighted to make such an announcement.

I am pleased to be able to make this announcement today. It shows that my Department and I are committed to improving the quality and number of services for the island

the Minister of State stated.



This new two year contract for a heavy freight service,

the Minister added,

is the latest in a series of initiatives aimed at improving connectivity to Tory Island. Discussions between my Department and the Health Service Executive (HSE) on extending the Toraigh helicopter service are ongoing and plans for extended air services are just one aspect of the ever improving transport links to Tory Island. As stated in the National Development Plan, we are also committed to securing a new purpose built ferry for the island over the coming years. Consultation work on the project has begun, which has included members of Comharchumann Thoraí travelling to Rathlin Island to learn from the experience there.

In the last year the Government has already doubled helicopter services to and from Tory Island, with the flight in and out of the island increasing from one day a fortnight to once a week.