ISLAND communities in Scotland are to share £4 million of funding to help improve infrastructure.
The Scottish Government announced the cash is being provided to the six local authorities with island populations, as it acknowledged the economic fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic has had a “disproportionate impact” on these areas.
The latest funding is part of the Government’s £30m Islands Programme, which was set up to support the implementation of the National Islands Plan to improve quality of life in the communities.
Rural Affairs and Islands Secretary Mairi Gougeon announced the funding, which is for the financial year 2022-23, ahead of the latest meeting of the Convention of Highlands and Islands.
She said: “I am pleased to announce further investment from the £30m National Islands Plan infrastructure investment fund. I am providing £4m across the six island local authorities which will enable us to work together to support critical projects and to help make our islands even better places to live, study, work and raise a family.
"This funding is complemented by ongoing planned investment which is designed to support those living on Scotland’s islands and will involve communities in the decisions on how and where investments are made.”
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