Madam, - I am interested to note the admission from the Office of Public Works that there is no management plan for Skellig Michael ("OPW denies damaging Skellig Michael", The Irish Times, June 27th). As one of 14 boat operators, recognised by the OPW as Skellig tourist ferries I can say this lack of a management plan has been evident at sea level for many years as the OPW rebuffs all our efforts to inject some fixity of tenure into its year-on-year boat licensing system.
The OPW's refusal to plan a system for handing down our Skellig landing permits has only one outcome: natural wastage or retirement of current boatmen shall see the number of landing permits ultimately dwindle to none, and the number of Skellig visitors - currently at some 10,000 a year - also dwindle to zero.
There is no plan, procedure or formula in place to suggest otherwise. - Yours, etc,
DES LAVELLE, Valentia Island, Co Kerry.