#AranIslands - The Minister for the Gaeltacht has backed out of a scheduled meeting with Aran Islands residents over the latest tender for the area's air service, as Galway Bay FM reports.
Locals had been hoping to meet with Minister Joe McHugh to express concerns over potential increased fares for the air route across Galway Bay from the islands to the mainland west of Galway city.
The replacement of the islands' decades-old aeroplane link with a helicopter service, as was mooted in the controversial tender cancelled at the last minute in late 2015, has also not been ruled out.
But the meeting originally set for tomorrow (Thursday 7 April) has been cancelled after departmental officials advised it would be inappropriate while the latest tender is underway.
Just days ago the airport at Inverin in Connemara was selected as the mainland terminal for the new Public Service Obligation air service tender, as previously reported on Afloat.ie.
Galway Bay FM has more on the story HERE.