Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)

On 17 October, a decision was announced, via e-mail, to all staff by the director of the Irish Coast Guard, Mr. Chris Reynolds, to the effect that a two-tier operation will come into being, that the marine rescue co-ordination centre will be co-located with headquarters in Drogheda and that a second centre will be established at a new west coast location. This decision was apparently taken by the Minister for Transport, Deputy Dempsey, and relayed to the employees of the Irish Coast Guard at Malin Head, Valentia and Dublin.

Until 17 October, an agreement was in place, which was signed off by the then Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern, to the effect that the Dublin operation would be closed and that the Valentia and Malin Head coast guard radio stations would be kept open and expanded. Staff were informed that the latter was the position but, after three years, they have been informed that matters have changed. The decision made by the Minister for Transport, Deputy Dempsey, represents a complete U-turn on an agreement made by the then Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern.

The station on Valentia dates back to 1914 and, as the Ceann Comhairle will testify, it is an intricate part of the life of the island and of Kerry as a whole. The staff there have saved countless lives and its history is a testament to the their dedication and hard work. Valentia is by far the busiest of the three stations in operation and it receives the highest number of distress communications. What will be the status of Valentia in the wake of the announcement by the Minister? Will it be unmanned or will it be closed down?

None of this makes sense. The station was refurbished in the recent past and the staff who were working there at the time went to great lengths to ensure that everything necessary for future development was put in place. In that context, a suspended ceiling that could be removed was erected and underground cables, which are not currently in use, were laid. Every effort was made to protect the future of the station.

If the station is to be unmanned or closed down, and in light of the fact that under decentralisation staff are only obliged to relocate on a voluntary basis, what will be the position regarding the staff currently employed there? Where will these people go? Will they be compelled to move to another station? What will happen to them and their families? I am aware that there will be a new intake of staff in the coming months and that 53 applications have been made in respect of about nine vacancies. I understand that quite a number of the 53 individuals who applied listed Valentia as their preference.

Will the Minister provide an indication as to where the new station will be located? Does he intend to close the stations at Valentia and Malin Head or does he intend them to be unmanned? What is the status of the people currently employed at these locations?

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