Naval Service may intervene in Aran ferry crisis

Gaeltacht Minister Sean Kyne says the use of the Irish Naval Service to provide a short-term service to residents on Inis Mór is being explored.
It follows the planned withdrawal of the winter service to the largest Aran Island until March 2017, with the last ferry departing at 6 this evening.
Island Ferries Teo has reaffirmed it’s intention to suspend the service – citing the ‘negative fiscal conditions’ created by the local authority with the introduction of passenger levies.
In a last ditch effort to save the service, councillors will be asked to reduce the passenger levy from 80c to 40c per passenger at tomorrow’s County Council budget meeting.
They’re also being urged to outright scrap the €5 passenger fee for permanent residents on the island.
Gaeltacht Minister and Galway West TD Sean Kyne is being urged to provide a contingency plan for Inis Mor islanders who are set to lose their winter ferry service this evening.