Coastal Protection.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 October 2004

Tuesday, 19 October 2004

Ceisteanna (206)

Seán Crowe

Ceist:

338 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will investigate the plight of the coast guards at Doolin, County Clare (details supplied). [25047/04]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. Gallagher)

The Irish Coastguard of my Department operates a station house building programme for coastal units around the coast. The Office of Public Works, OPW, manages this programme for the coastguard. The coastguard and the OPW are together giving top priority to the project for a search and rescue station house at Doolin, County Clare.

The position regarding the project is that, while financial sanction has been granted in principle for the development, the OPW has not yet been able to acquire a suitable site. It is, however, in negotiations for acquisition of a site near Doolin, and as soon as a suitable site has been acquired, the construction process, including building design, planning permission application and tendering, will proceed as quickly as possible.