Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I want to raise another point. Deputy Matthews mentioned the Coast Guard in Greystones and Westport. We have heard from the Coast Guard and we will hear from representative groups of volunteers and former volunteers. We have had a report from the Comptroller and Auditor General. I am flagging this as a concern. There is underspend. There are questions about procurement and investment in capital infrastructure. The earlier part of the previous decade was the last time significant investment was made. I am raising this as a concern with regard to how the Coast Guard is progressing these projects as part of a wider concern within the Coast Guard. I will leave it with the Minister of State. The committee is engaged in work with the Coast Guard, the Department and the Ministers.

Deputy Carey raise the issue of the RSA and driving testers. I want to come back to this with regard to access to basic facilities at testing centres. This is something the Minister of State and I have exchanged views on. The first time I raised it was in a debate on Supplementary Estimates. That must have been at least 12 months ago if not more. We are back into winter. I have the details of an exchange between Unite the Union and the RSA and Unite the Union and the Health and Safety Authority. It seems very clear from looking at these exchanges and correspondence that there is no reason for the current state of affairs to be the way it is. I cannot explain why it is this way. It seems there is an element of spitefulness. I cannot see anything else in it. I will make the same case as I made 12 months ago. These are essential workers. They perform a very important role in infrastructure for which the Minister of State is responsible. They might not be directly employed by the Department or the RSA but they are essential as they provide training to drivers, who we want to be fit to drive on our roads and keep themselves and us safe. They are being treated disgracefully with regard to the most basic requirement for toilet facilities and sanitation. It needs to be resolved. It needs intervention from the Minister of State or her colleagues. I do not know whether the Minister of State has a response on this but I want to leave it with her.