Tory Islanders will today vote on a possible way forward to the standoff over the planned introduction of a new ferry service.
The Government plans to introduce a new boat for the 150 islanders on April 1st next.
However, locals say they will stop the boat, the Queen of Ferry from landing at the pier claiming the boat is not suitable for the crossing.
Afer numerous protests and meetings, an independent report by former TG4 boss Pól Ó Gallchóir was put before locals last night at a meeting on the island.
Having met on the issue, islanders will today vote on the recommendations in the report.
Although the report has not yet been made public, Donegal Daily understands it suggests a number of measures in a bid to resolve the impasse between islanders and the Government.
Top of the recommendations is another smaller ferry service to run alongside the Queen of Aran boat.
This boat will be a smaller vessel which can take 12 passengers but will take about half an hour from Magheroarty to Tory, compared to the current journey which takes almost an hour.
Other recommendations include a proposal of increasing cargo trips to the island from 26 a year to 40 while another suggests the helicopter service be extended from September until April compared to the current timeline of November until March.
These suggestions in the report as well as others were discussed in detail by islanders last night.
The overall acceptance of the report will be voted on later today by islanders.
Minister of State for the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Islands, Joe McHugh T.D., today welcomed the report from Pól Ó Gallchóir, Chairman of Foras an Gaeilge and former chief executive of TG4, on the Toraigh Ferry service.
He said “I welcome the report by Pól Ó Gallchóir on the Toraigh ferry service. I am very grateful for the time and dedication Mr Ó Gallchóir has given to his role in the past week. I would also wish to thank the Islanders and Comharchumann Thoraí for their engagement in the process.
“I hope that the last week has provided the necessary groundwork for a resolution to the issues raised by the Islanders and that we can move forward in the best interests of everyone involved. I intend to study Mr Ó Gallchóir’s report in detail before making any further comment on the matter.”
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