Island Ferries confirms withdrawal of winter service to Inis Mór

Galway Bay fm newsroom – Island Ferries Teo has confirmed that it will proceed with the immediate withdrawal of ferry services to Inis Mór from tomorrow (01/12)
It took the decision in October to withdraw the winter service until mid-March due to what it describes as ‘policy decisions beyond its control’.
The planned withdrawal of service from this Thursday follows a 2011 bye-law which introduced ‘per-passenger’ levies – previously, a ‘per vessel’ system was in place.
In a statement to Galway Bay fm news, Island Ferries Teo says the ‘negative fiscal conditions’ created by Galway County Council in imposing levies make the operation of a winter service unsustainable.
The ferry service was originally scheduled to be withdrawn on the 2nd of November – but Island Ferries Teo twice extended the deadline as talks continued with the local authority in an attempt to resolve the impasse.
Island Ferries Teo has previously called on the County Council to reduce the current rate of 80c per passenger to 40c – and scrap the €5 passenger fee for permanent residents on the island.
However, those talks have ultimately proved fruitless, and the company says it is with deep regret that it now has to take the ‘undesired’ course of action of withdrawing the service until March of 2017.