P. J. Sheehan
Question:52 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for the Marine if he will consider providing assistance for the provision of a lifeboat in Castletownbere, County Cork.
Written Answers. - Castletownbere (Cork) Lifesaving Facilities.
A grant of £100,000 is paid every year to the Royal National Lifeboat Institute to defray their general expenses. This annual grant is in lieu of grants for specific projects. I have no funds at my disposal for lifeboats other than those operated by the RNLI.
The RNLI provide an efficient and effective lifeboat service around our coast. The adequacy of the lifeboat service is kept under continuous review by the RNLI. I have referred the Deputy's concerns to them. The RNLI have, in recent years, opened new lifeboat stations at Courtown, County Wexford, Ballyglass, County Mayo, Lough Swilly, County Donegal and Clifden, County Galway.
Should the RNLI wish to establish a lifeboat station at Castletownbere, my Department which manages the Fishery Harbour Centre there would be happy to assist, if requested to do so.