Aran Island residents have called on Minister for the Gaeltacht Joe McHugh to reconsider the decision to award the State's air service contract for the islands to a helicopter company operating out of east Galway.
A delegation from the islands expressed their concerns to Mr McHugh during a meeting in Furbo, Connemara, on Tuesday after it was announced last week Executive Helicopters is the “preferred tenderer” to provide the service for the next four years.
Hundreds of islanders and supporters attended a press conference before the meeting to declare their anger at the decision to transfer the public service obligation tender from Aer Arann Islands to the helicopter firm.
They have asked how Aer Arann Islands, a company with more than four decades of experience transporting passengers to the islands, could have been outperformed by a helicopter firm with virtually no experience servicing the islands.
Doubts have also been raised over the helicopter company’s ability to operate out of Galway airport after the end of the year.
Galway County Council, which controls the lease on the airport, “has not been involved in discussions regarding the proposals for a Public Service Obligation air contract for the Aran Islands,” a spokesman said.
“There is no agreement in place regarding the proposal. The current lease on the property to Carnmore Aviation Ltd expires in December 2015,” he added.
A feasibility study on the future of the airport is being carried out and any recommendations it makes will have to be approved by the elected members of Galway City and County Councils.
About 40 jobs are expected to be lost at Aer Arann Islands when the tender is transferred.
Needs ‘ignored’
At the Furbo press conference, Cathy Ní Ghoill, Tarlach de Blacam and Paddy Crowe said islanders’ needs and wishes have been ignored and that the decision represents a “negative policy towards the Aran Islands and the Gaeltacht in general”.
The gathering also heard the decision to transfer the tender would harm business and education on the islands, making it more difficult for secondary school teachers in particular to travel to the islands for classes.
Aer Arann Islands currently operates a fixed-wing airplane service out of Aerfort na Mine in Connemara, about 8km from the ferry terminal at Ros a’Mhíl. Galway airport is located 52km away on the east side of the county.
According to the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, there will be a minimum of two return flights daily by helicopter from Galway airport at Carnmore.
Location important
Island residents said the location is important because if a flight is cancelled because of bad weather there is the option to get a boat from Ros a’Mhíl, a few minutes’ drive away. But if the helicopter is cancelled it would mean a drive of more than an hour across Galway city to the ferry terminal.
In a statement, Coiste leis an tSeirbhís Aeir go hÁrainn a Chosaint, a campaign group on the Aran Islands, said: “Galway Airport is unsuitable for the requirements/needs of islanders. Conamara Airport (Indreabhán) with proximity to Ros a’Mhíl offers choice, in terms of weather and preference.”
Mr McHugh last week said Executive Helicopters was selected as the “preferred tenderer” to provide the air service contract for the next four years.
The Irish Islands Federation said the decision to accept the air services tender from Executive Helicopters instead of Aer Arann Islands was a "very disturbing one".
Executive Helicopters said it would not be commenting on the issue until the outcome of the tendering process was confirmed in the coming days.
