Magilligan to Greencastle Ferry Service: Subsidy

Oral Answers to Questions — Infrastructure – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 2:15 pm on 4 October 2016.

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Photo of Gerry Mullan Gerry Mullan Social Democratic and Labour Party 2:15, 4 October 2016

T1. Mr Mullan asked the Minister for Infrastructure whether his Department plans to subsidise the Magilligan to Greencastle ferry service, as it does for other ferry services in the North, given that he will be aware of the benefits that it provides for local people and for visitors to the area and the fact that there remains a lot of concern about its long-term sustainability. (AQT 276/16-21)

Photo of Christopher Hazzard Christopher Hazzard Sinn Féin 2:30, 4 October 2016

This is something I am certainly more than happy to look at. I have not looked at it yet, and it is not sitting with me at the minute. We have a number of services that are vital to their communities, whether it is the Rathlin Island service or the Strangford lough service. There is an undoubted potential to link the north coast with the Wild Atlantic Way. You talked about the Magilligan ferry: it is certainly an issue I am more than happy to correspond with the Member on.

Photo of Gerry Mullan Gerry Mullan Social Democratic and Labour Party

Minister, do you maybe plan to raise the issue at the next North/South Ministerial Council meeting?

Photo of Christopher Hazzard Christopher Hazzard Sinn Féin

I had not planned to do so, but, in the light of some of the other issues we will be discussing, I am more than happy to. There is a transport sectoral meeting happening shortly, and I am more than happy to raise it under the heading of any other business.