Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On matters relating to islands, the world has gone stark mad and I will give the Minister the perfect example of just how ridiculous it has become. I asked the Minister for Transport a question about the provision of a Coast Guard facility at the airstrip in Cleggan in Connemara. It already has a temporary facility there but there is a need for a temporary Coast Guard facility and Cleggan is the ideal place. It should be remembered that the airstrip there means Sikorsky helicopters have no problem landing. They can land on the apron, never mind landing on the airstrip. What are all these codes and arrangements? It would drive anyone crazy. The answer from the Department of Transport states: "Under the Public Spending Code, OPW have to evaluate all potential sites in the Cleggan area." The Minister's Department owns this site. It is an airstrip and the Coast Guard uses a Sikorsky helicopter. The boat is a rigid inflatable boat, RIB, on the back of a jeep. It is fine where it is. It is within one mile of the sea and the Coast Guard could have to travel ten or 15 miles by road before getting to the pier nearest to an incident. It already has a temporary facility but now we are told that there has to be a big study to prove that no other site is available. It is time the State caught on to itself and common sense took over from procedure so that we can start to get things done. I am sure the Chair will agree with me.