Residents of Inishbiggle island have called on Minister Éamon Ó Cuív to honour his commitments and prioritise the development of a cable-car service to the isolated Mayo island this year.
Mr Ó Cuív, Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs said at the weekend he was "totally committed" to the project, but delays to a number of island projects had caused a log-jam.
Residents have campaigned for the cable-car service for 20 years and the final obstacle to the development was removed in October when a disputed compulsory purchase order of island land was resolved.
Mr Ó Cuív said local objections to the development had caused "a massive hold-up". However, he had received "a record amount of funding" for island infrastructural projects (€7.5 million) this year and the same was guaranteed next year, as part of a five-year plan. Delays were caused to a number of other island projects for various reasons and now they were all seeking funding at the same time, he said. Priority had to be given to projects that were signed, sealed and in construction.
Two major island projects include pier work at Clare Island and Inishturk.
Mr Ó Cuív pointed out that work had recently been done on a pier on the other side of Inishbiggle, so access facilities had already improved somewhat.
Mr Pól Ó Foighil, manager of the island co-operative, Comhar Bigil Teo, said he understood that funding had been available in 2003 but the Minister had "effectively stated that available funding has been already designated to other Mayo islands".
During the 20-year battle for the service, which involved a public inquiry in 2001, the community has lost over half its population and its primary school has been closed. The island, which is only 2 km long and 400 yards from Bullsmouth harbour on Achill island, remains the country's most isolated island. The currents which separate it from Achill are among the most dangerous in western Europe.
The largely elderly population of 40 people relies on small open craft and currachs to commute to the mainland. Weekly groceries are delivered by "the sailing shop", a currach from Achill.
According to islander, Mr Jeremy Holt, "the sense of despair and depression was palpable" when Minister Ó Cuiv announced his 2004 "islands spending".
"He promised us that the funding was ring-fenced and that, once the legal obstacles were resolved, work would commence. We took him at his word and in order to expedite matters "friends of the island" paid the legal expenses of the objectors to the development."
Mr Holt said the money would be found if the political will was there. "After all, they found it for Punchestown," he added.