Mr. Niall Ferns:

I will clarify some of the issues that were listed. In regard to geographical restrictions on the boat in Kilkee, they have been removed for some time now. The D-class vessel has been fully operational in Kilkee since August 2020 and the Delta RIB has been fully operational in Kilkee since July of this year. In regard to access to certain parts of the cliffs around the Cliffs of Moher, we received a report approximately a year ago and we have been working with the stakeholders. Concerns were raised about safety in particular zones around the Cliffs of Moher and we have been working through our safety, quality and compliance section, the county council and the local stakeholders to deal with that. However, it is still deemed in appropriate for volunteers to go into parts of the cliffs.

As regards the steel girders, we have been working with the Office of Public Works to put in place a programme for servicing and inspecting the girders to allow people to train inside. Volunteers' competencies have not been reduced as a result of this. They are inspected annually through a log book where they are required to do eight exercises in cliff per annum, and that requirement remains in place still. The bolting system is specific to approximately six or seven teams around the coast. The limestone around the Cliffs of Moher and the Doolin area proves problematic in terms of driving stakes into the ground. We have been working with Doolin Coast Guard on bringing in a new system and using the Doolin team as an initial team for it. However, but part of the older system has now become obsolete.

The Coast Guard has never tethered to vehicles. Our system is to tether through stakes or a bolt system.