Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Yes, I can confirm that training will be provided. I will outline the up-to-date situation. The Coast Guard is a fantastic organisation. Everybody wants to do what is best for the Coast Guard to make it work efficiently, and for its members to be content with what they are doing and not to hinder them in their work in any way.

On the issue of basic facilities such as toilets, running water and Internet, almost two thirds of Coast Guard units have basic facilities, including bathrooms, running water and so forth. Most of the remaining buildings are old rocket houses which were never intended to be anything other than storage units. The building programme is seeking to target capital investment on enhancing the units most in need. Unfortunately, some buildings are simply not suitable for such enhancement in terms of their location, building regulations or other safety considerations. In such cases the Irish Coast Guard, in conjunction with the Office of Public Works, OPW, is seeking alternative sites or solutions for the units. There are 16 Coast Guard units in total without full sanitation facilities. That is not satisfactory and will have to be improved. However, there have been improvements to two thirds of the units.

Due to the nature and size of the rocket house buildings, their current land footprint and their unique locations, it is not always feasible to upgrade or extend these premises. My officials have asked the OPW to conduct individual building assessments of Coast Guard unit stations currently without facilities to ascertain the best solutions available, including temporary solutions for the ten units already included in the OPW building and building maintenance programmes and permanent solutions for the remaining six rocket house sub-stations. All 53 stations will be provided with laptops and printers this year by IT people in the Department and all 53 officers-in-charge now have Internet-enabled mobile devices.