James Breen (Clare, Independent)
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Question 87: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the reason for the delay in providing the Doolin Coast guard search and rescue service with a new station at Doolin (details supplied). [34718/05]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I am conscious of the need for a new station house for the coastal unit at Doolin, County Clare and want to see it provided as quickly as possible. The Irish Coast Guard and the Office of Public Works have been doing everything they can to acquire a suitable site in the area, but despite intensive local discussions and negotiations it has not been possible to reach agreement for a site to date.

Real progress was made in negotiations in 2004 and it had been expected that a deal would be agreed, but, due to circumstances beyond the control of the Irish Coast Guard and the Office of Public Works, the negotiations were not successful. Despite this setback, however, efforts were intensified again this year and discussions with a landowner are now at an advanced stage. In view of the need for strict confidentiality in managing such negotiations it would not be judicious to elaborate upon the discussions at this time. As soon as an agreement is reached, the Department will move to complete the development as quickly as possible.

I compliment the Doolin coastal unit for the excellent search and rescue work it has undertaken over many years, some of it in very difficult circumstances. While it is regrettable that attempts to acquire a site have not met with success to date, the provision of a new station house for the Doolin team remains a top priority for me.

The Department and the Office of Public Works will do everything possible to bring these advanced negotiations to a successful conclusion. It is appropriate at this time to sympathise with the families bereaved as a result of a recent tragedy in Doolin.

James Breen (Clare, Independent)
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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?

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I appreciate the difficult circumstances in which the team in Doolin is working. There are 45 coastal units around the State. The Department has a programme in place to provide new stations or extensions and refurbishments to existing ones. In the past 12 months I have had the pleasure of opening many of them. It is not that Doolin is not high on the priority list. The Deputy is correct as the Doolin unit was listed as a priority location for a new station house as far back as 1998. As I have explained, there was a problem in securing a site. It would be wise for us to give the OPW and the IRCG an opportunity to negotiate with the landowner with whom they are in discussions. I hope the matter can thus be brought to a conclusion. We were at an advanced stage last year when a question of confidentiality was raised. The less we say about this matter the better. The Deputy referred to a site that is available and if he wishes to give me this information privately I will be pleased to take it on board and advise the coast guard and OPW accordingly.

I am anxious to provide a modern station at that location. As I come from the north-west coast, I realise only too well the number of missions carried out by all the units throughout the country. These units give their time voluntarily and the least we can do is provide them with modern facilities because they are working in very difficult circumstances. Even if the site were procured today, it would be unwise for me to put my political future on the line by stating that it would be finished by next June. This is taking into account lead-in time, transfer of land, planning permission issues and other matters. I will do my utmost to ensure that the negotiations are brought to a successful conclusion and I will not be found wanting at that stage.

James Breen (Clare, Independent)
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Even if a site was available in the morning, the Office of Public Works still does not have a design for the building. Surely a design should exist for the building, wherever it will eventually be placed. I hope there is not a rift in the camp between the Minister and the Minister of State, who are sitting very far apart.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Templates exist and it should not take too long to design a station house. If the process got that far, the Deputy would be reasonably satisfied.