The Scottish Budget was passed by MSPs on Tuesday 21st of February with increased funding and a renewed commitment to support our islands ferries.

“I recognise the difficulties being faced by our island authorities in managing the cost increases facing their inter-islands ferry network due to the effects of inflation and rising fuel prices.

“This particularly applies in Orkney and Shetland but to a lesser extent in Argyll and Bute, and in Highland. The Government gave a commitment some years ago to fully fund those services so the second commitment is that that is a commitment we will honour.

“We recognise there are increased costs and my officials are engaging with councils specifically on the level of funding required and Parliament will be informed once those decisions have concluded.” Deputy First Minister John Swinney

The news has been welcomed by local politicians.

Orkney Consitutency MSP Liam McArthur, LibDem said:

“It is welcome that the Deputy First Minister has acknowledged the real pressures facing the operation of Orkney’s internal ferries due to soaring inflation and fuel prices. These costs have added further expense to maintaining these lifeline services.

“The reality is, however, that this funding only brings us back to where we were five years ago when the SNP Government committed to fair funding for our internal ferry services.

“Welcome though this support is, however, what islanders really want to see is an agreement on funding of new vessels to replace the ageing fleet operating these routes. Hopefully the ferries taskforce can pave the way to reaching such an agreement which is long overdue, urgently needed and absolutely crucial to sustaining Orkney’s island communities.”

A few weeks ago the Scottish Government’s Task Force met for the first time to work through a plan for the future development of Orkney Islands Council’s inter islands ferry service. Working Together to Address Ferries Issues The meeting, the first of a series to take place, is seeking solutions to the replacement of Orkney’s ageing inter island ferries and how they are funded.

Emma Roddick MSP, SNP, Highlands and Islands, welcomed the announcement of additional funding for Islands ferries.

She said:

“I am glad to see the Scottish Government recognise the difficulties that our island authorities face in managing the cost increases and how that impacts the inter-islands ferry network due to the effects of inflation and rising fuel prices.

“The SNP made a commitment to fully fund these vital services and it’s clear that this will be honoured through engaging with councils specifically on the level of funding required.

“Ferries provide vital links for our island communities and this assurance will be hugely welcome for everyone.”

The Deputy First Minister announced the decision during Stage 3 Scottish Budget and has subsequently written to all 4 councils across the Highlands and Islands that rely on the inter-islands ferry network. Given inflationary pressures, Mr Swinney confirmed Scottish Government officials are engaging with councils specifically on the level of funding required and the Scottish Parliament will be informed once those discussions have concluded.

We’ll have a fuller report on the Budget in tomorrow’s Orkney News. The Scottish Budget passed with 68 votes For – SNP and Scottish Greens; and 57 votes Against – Conservatives, Labour and LibDem.