Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Powers and Functions) Act 2003

Powers of Minister in relation to transport services for islands.

2.—(1) Without prejudice to the generality of this, or any other enactment conferring functions on the Minister but subject to subsection (2), the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, may, subject to such terms and conditions as the Minister, with that consent, may determine—

(a) pay subsidies—

(i) for the operation of ferry services between the islands and the mainland, and

(ii) for the operation of island connecting bus passenger services,

and

(b) finance the building, acquisition, overhaul or repair of vessels suitable for the operation of such ferry services.

(2) A subsidy shall not be paid under subsection (1) for the operation of island connecting bus passenger services without the consent of the Minister for Transport to the payment and to the terms and conditions thereof.

(3) It shall be and be deemed always to have been a function of the Minister to pay subsidies for the operation of an island connecting bus passenger service.

(4) In this section “an island connecting bus passenger service” means a bus service provided in conjunction with a ferry service mentioned in subsection (1) or an air service mentioned in section 3 connecting—

(a) the terminus on the mainland of such a ferry service or air service, and

(b) centres of population within a radius of 120 kilometres of that terminus specified in regulations made by the Minister,

and being a service for the carriage solely of goods and passengers carried by the air service or the ferry service.