Minister Calleary announces new heavy cargo services for four islands off the coast of Cork
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From: Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht
- Published on: 4 July 2025
- Last updated on: 4 July 2025
The Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary, has announced a new contract to provide a heavy cargo service to four islands located off the coast of County Cork. The islands are: Oileán Chléire (Cape Clear Isle), Sherkin, Long Island and Heir Island.
This is a five-year contract, running from 2025 to 2030, and will provide 70 sailing days per year for the island communities. The new contract represents a 20% increase on the number of sailing days that was provided in the previous contract and will also provide a more regular service for Oileán Chléire, the most remote and challenging island to serve.
The service will be provided by Carbery Isle Ferries LTD., and the department will provide €1.5 million over a five-year period for this service.
Announcing the new contract, Minister Calleary said:
“I am delighted to announce this very important contract for a cargo service for Oileán Chléire, Sherkin, Long and Heir Islands.
“The largest number of inhabited islands are off the coast of County Cork. Each island has different requirements; however, transport services are one of the biggest challenges for all of them. Ensuring regular, all year-round services for island communities, at a reasonable cost, is a central part of the government’s ‘Our Living Islands’ policy. I am delighted that this new contract will ensure that these islands will have an excellent service for the years to come.
“Since becoming Minister, I have made our islands a priority. I have already visited some and I hope to visit all of them during my time as Minister."
Welcoming the announcement of the new contract Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, and TD for Cork South-Central, Jerry Buttimer added:
“This new contract ensures that island residents and businesses of the West Cork Isles will continue to have access to reliable heavy cargo services for the next 5 years. The increase in the number of sailing days will be of particular benefit to the small island farming communities that rely heavily on this service when moving livestock from the islands to the mainland during the busy market season.
"This new contract highlights the government’s continued commitment and support for the sustainability of our island communities.”
This contract will ensure that they will be provided with a continuous, regular, reasonably priced heavy cargo service for the next five years.
The contract came into effect on 1 July 2025.