Vol. 387 No. 6
asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport the plans he has for the alternative deployment of the staff at Roche's Point, County Cork, in the event of the proposal contained in the Meteorological Service review being implemented; and the amount of money these arrangements will cost the Exchequer.
6.
asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport the long term proposals in relation to the Meteorological Service station at Roche's Point, County Cork.
25.
asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport the alternative arrangements he is making for effective forecasting for the Celtic Sea in the event of the downgrading of Roche's Point weather station, County Cork, as proposed in the Meteorological Service review.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 5, 6 and 25 together.
As part of the Government's efforts to reduce public expenditure, a general review of the Meteorological Service was carried out by senior officers of the Departments of Tourism and Transport and Finance to identify, inter alia, the scope for reducing costs and increasing revenues. Representatives of the Meteorological Service participated in the review. Arising from the review, which was wide ranging and took full account of the needs of the service in the modern environment, the review group made comprehensive recommendations for maintaining the general level and standard of the Meteorological Service operations, but at substantially reduced costs. The recommendations focused on the scope for improved structures, greater use of automation and general rationalisation with a view to achieving a more efficient and cost effective service.
As part of this rationalisation process the group recommended, inter alia, the closure of the weather observation station at Roche's Point in County Coark. This station has no formal role in the dissemination of meteorological information. Furthermore, it is planned to install an automatic observing system at Roche's Point. Accordingly routine climatological information will continue to be available to those who require it.
I am satisfied that there will be no diminution in the quality of forecasts for the Celtic Sea as a result of the new arrangements.
The five staff members at Roche's Point will be redeployed elsewhere in the Meteorological Service to fill existing vacancies. The once-off cost of the staff move will be about £30,000.
I am most disappointed at the Minister's reply. I do not accept that there will be technological advantages because, basically, he will be making a saving. As somebody with some knowledge of the harbour area I can say it will not be an advantage. The Minister must be aware that all the European meteorological services are reverting to manual operations if for no other reason than that they comprise part of the world meteorological organisations. That arrangement is reciprocal. Indeed, we saw what happened yesterday when——
A question, please, Deputy.
I will come to that in a moment, a Cheann Comhairle. I do not normally cause you any problems in the House. I want to make the point that, in the case of the disaster yesterday, that sort of automated station would have been of damn little use in providing day-to-day forecasts for people at sea. Furthermore, the one located at Cork Airport is totally irrelevant.
I am anxious to assist the Deputy but he knows we must proceed by way of supplementary questions at Question Time.
I am coming to my supplementary now. Because of its inherent shortcomings, because four or five people have lived there most of their lives, would the Minister reconsider that decision, allowing us to have a small, efficient service there not only for the benefit of shipping in the area but for the rural farming community as well? I would appeal to the Minister to think of the five families involved who have lived there most of their lives. They cannot be sent to Cork Airport, and I do not want to see them uprooted at this stage.
It would appear the Deputy is asking me to reconsider my decision. I can tell him that, for very obvious reasons, I gave this matter very serious consideration. It is obvious why I should have done so in relation to Roche's Point more than anywhere else, although in saying so I do not mean any disrespect to any other area. I have considered the matter repeatedly and must reiterate that my decision stands.
Deputies M. Higgins and Quill rose.
I am calling Deputy Higgins.
On a point of order, and I assure you, Sir, I will not delay the House. My concern is that my Question No. 30 also deals with the meteorological service. Can I take it now that it is being treated separately from those the Minister has just answered?
It is, yes.
The Minister is well aware that Roche's Point is the only meteorological station on the whole of the south coast. Can he give this House a guarantee that a standard of accurate weather forecasting can be maintained there, not alone for shipping and air traffic but also in respect of oil exploration activities in the Celtic Sea? Can the accurate forecasting that has prevailed during the lifetime of that station be maintained if it is now to be closed? As Deputy Hegarty has said, the Minister's decision will mean that we will be out of step with what every other European country is doing. For obvious reasons other European countries are now reverting to manual stations. Has the Minister thought about that?
I took every aspect of this matter into consideration in arriving at my decision.
Has the Minister given thought to how it will affect oil exploration in the Celtic Sea?
I must repeat that the Minister is not giving this House accurate information because in no way can an automated station provide readings in respect of fog, snow, cloud and so on, so vital to shipping in the harbour area. As a fellow Corkman I would appeal to him to go back to these officials and have something done about what is the main artery for shipping to and from this country.
I also feel Deputy Hegarty would agree that he ought not to suggest that the Minister is deliberately misleading the House. That would not be in order.
I certainly do agree; I would say he has received inaccurate information.
Thank you, Deputy.
I do not expect the Minister, being a landsman, to know what happens down at Roche's Point. As somebody who used the harbour I can inform him that an automated station will not predict when fog, snow or bad weather is imminent.
It could not have saved the Taoiseach a couple of years ago.
There is a distinction to be drawn here between an observatory and a meteorological station. My fellow Corkonian is under some illusion if he thinks that, because I live inland, I would not know what all of this is about. I should like to correct him.
The Minister must not know.
Well, each day we learn something new.
Let us hear the Minister.
When I was appointed to this position one of the functions allocated to me on 12 March 1987 was responsibility for the Meteorological Office. If the Deputy is inferring that I have come into the House today without any knowledge of this matter, he is totally incorrect.
It is obvious that the Minister knows damn all about the harbour.
It will continue to operate as an automated observatory.
That is a Civil Service answer.
