Transport Minister Sarah Boyack

Ms Boyack launched a consultation exercise last year to take on board public views about the future of the network.

The minister has now decided that maintaining an integrated service from CalMac will best serve the Scottish public.

She also believes this will prevent private operators from "cherrypicking" the most profitable routes.

European Commission

Under the proposals CalMac will remain in public ownership and subsidies will continue on loss-making routes.

The minister is also proposing that a new company is set up to own the vessels and lease them to the operator.

The European Commission must agree the plans but Ms Boyack says she is confident the new set-up will satisfy European competition law:

"We are required under the European Community's rules to consult the commission on the proposals and therefore they are provisional at this stage and subject to the commission's approval and further investigation," she said.

"If approved by the commission, these measures would ensure that we will be able to continue to subsidise them in the future and safeguard the services on which these communities depend."