James Breen (Clare, Independent)

I too compliment Doolin coast guard and rescue service. I sympathise with the relatives of those who lost their lives at the recent bank holiday weekend, some of whom are neighbours of mine. Will the Minister of State agree it is a disgrace that the Doolin coast guard and rescue service must operate from a building constructed in 1920? The building has no facilities for showering, tea-making or even a toilet. The radio equipment is stored in an upstairs loft. As there are no stairs to it, the volunteers must climb a ladder to receive distress messages from sea. The building is subject to flooding with the volunteers forced to put sandbags against the doors. Does the Minister of State know that the lifeboat is stored one and a half miles inland and must be taken through Fisher Street in Doolin? During the summer, the street is busy with traffic delays of up to 30 minutes. With two ferries operating off Doolin, how soon could the lifeboat get to them if there is an emergency? This year, 30 rescue missions were undertaken by Doolin coast guard and rescue service.

Will the Minister of State agree that it is the indecision of the Office of Public Works that is holding up the provision of a new site for the service? When his predecessor promised it eight years ago, the Office of Public Works announced the location of the new station. However, it frequently changed its mind on where the site should be located. Such indecision is holding up the provision of a station in Doolin. A landowner is prepared to facilitate a new building at one location. Will the Minister of State support those great volunteers, who give up part of their livelihoods to search for missing people at sea, by providing a new station? Will the Minister of State give me a guarantee that a new station will be built on the latest proposed location before next June?

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