Europe To Fund Small Ferries Project

Welcoming the EU funding, Minister for Regional Development, Conor Murphy said: "Joint co-operation through this partnership will bring benefits and improvements for our most remote communities. I look forward to the Small Ferries Project leading the way for further collaboration to assist the development of small islands.

"Rathlin Island is the only inhabited offshore island in the north and it is important that government continues to recognise the importance of island living."

The Department for Regional Development has partnered with Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd from Scotland and the Department of Rural, Community and Gaeltacht Affairs, in the south, to develop the common design and procurement strategy.

The advantages of common design and a joint procurement strategy include skills and knowledge sharing across the three partnership areas, reducing overhead costs and increasing the potential for efficiency savings through economies of scale.