Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Irish Coast Guard unit in Killaloe, County Clare, is located on the shores of Lough Derg. All 22 volunteers there are out nearly every day of the week, not just because of the proximity of the unit's base to the lake but also because it is close to the motorway. There is also the question of the station's accessibility to other rescue missions around the country. The 22 volunteers are based out of a steel shipping container that has a single toilet. They are looking for a proper base. The Irish Coast Guard has had some discussions about the possibility of Killaloe becoming a national training hub. I would love to see that possibility explored further. I invite the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, to come to visit the unit some day. More importantly, however, the Government needs to have oversight of this matter. It needs to look at investment and at the health and safety aspect and the major role the volunteers play in this regard. There are perfect sites on the shores of Lough Derg that could be readily pursued in the context of a new base.

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