Valentia island ferry headig for extinction if Minister Ross fails, or refuses, to take action
SIR, The response I received from Minister Shane Ross in relation to the Valentia car ferry is both disappointing and questionable, a copy of which has been forwarded to the editor.
Minister Ross offered assurances to the owners of the ferry that he would be doing what he can to save the vessel. This is in total contrast to the response I received from him 10 days later.
He makes it quite clear that it is not in his remit to get involved as his terms of reference, and that of his department, relate only to national tourism policy and he does not get involved in individual tourism projects. This is a contradiction in itself as the Wild Atlantic Way is integral to that policy and Valentia forms a fundamental part of that route. To axe the ferry will effectively make Valentia a dead end, likened to a ‘ no through road’, severing it from the main Atlantic Way.
The Minister in his response is clearly passing the buck, stating these are operational matters for Fáilte Ireland and the National Tourism Development Authority. When the ferry company applied for funding under Fáilte Ireland’s grant scheme it was unsuccessful as it did not meet the eligibility criteria under EU regulations. The Swansea Cork ferry was axed for exactly the same reason because of Brussel’s bureaucracy. The Valentia ferry is also heading for extinction if the Minister fails or refuses to act.
It is evident that the regulations are not now fit for purpose and therefore need to be amended. I call on Shane Ross TD publicly, and those other TDs that have expressed an interest, to seek to amend the regulations through the European Union and bring about legislative change.
I sincerely hope that the minister is not playing lip service to the 5,000-plus people who signed the petition to save the ferry or the 250,000 passengers that used it in one season alone.
Let’s hope that the Minister is not remembered for the axing of a vital service to this small Island community, because of his inaction.
Sincerely,
Bill McNamara, Coaramore,
Valentia (and also UK).