Aer Arann will continue its air service to the Aran Islands for another year.

The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has confirmed its contract to provide the State-subsidised flights has been extended to the end of September 2016

The interim contract will cost 1.62 million euro, during which time a procurement process will take place for a new tender.

The announcement comes after a climbdown by the Department of the Gaeltacht, which had issued a now cancelled contract to a helicopter service - a move opposed by residents of the islands.