Emergency Services Provision

Dáil Éireann Debate, Friday - 6 September 2019

Friday, 6 September 2019

Questions (1419)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

1419. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the outrage amongst fishing communities and emergency services in Greencastle, Inishowen, County Donegal and further afield at the decision not to proceed with the sea survival centre at the National Fisheries School at Greencastle, County Donegal despite it being officially announced, planning permission attained and tenders issued for construction; and if this decision will be reviewed and reversed. [35949/19]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

This proposed project is currently under review in the wider context of the availability of existing professional sea survival training facilities within the State and the significant cost, both construction and operational, of such an additional facility. The existing modern professional sea survival training facilities, based at the National Maritime College of Ireland, Ringaskiddy, Co Cork, are unique in Ireland and designed both for fundamental safety training and specialised survival training, to increase survival ability in emergency situations. These purpose built, state of the art, facilities are available for the provision of all necessary and required training for fishermen in Ireland.

At the present time, there is no provision for or plans to proceed with this additional project and funding has not been provided in Bord Iascaigh Mharas's (BIM) Vote in 2019, for this proposed additional facility. Technical details in relation to the proposed project are a matter for BIM including in relation to announcements, planning and tendering for the project.