Dáil debates

Wednesday, 1 February 2006

Other Questions.

Decentralisation Programme.

3:00 pm

Photo of Joe CostelloJoe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 110: To ask the Minister for Transport when the coast guard will move its headquarters to Drogheda; the number of positions and staff who will transfer; the arrangements being made for the Dublin marine rescue co-ordination centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3134/06]

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Government's decentralisation programme the decentralisation implementation group has identified the transfer of the headquarters of the Irish Coast Guard and maritime safety directorate to Drogheda as a phase one project. The Office of Public Works is currently seeking a suitable site in Drogheda for the development with the objective of completing the move as quickly as possible. The decentralisation project will involve 47 posts composed of both coast guard and maritime safety directorate staff.

Separately, a decision to transfer the services of the marine rescue co-ordination centre from Dublin was taken on foot of a study of the coast guard undertaken by independent consultants. Reflecting advances in modern communications technologies, the consultants recommended that the coast guard should operate two control centres as opposed to the three centres that exist at present. Communications technology today is such that the geographical location of the co-ordination centres is less important now than in the past.

The intention is that the remaining two centres would be developed to handle all emergencies around our coast, including the Dublin and the east coast area, on inland waters and mountain, cliff and cave rescue. There would be no consequent reduction in the capability of the Irish Coast Guard to co-ordinate and manage incidents as a result of the relocation away from Dublin.

In this context, coast guard management would address all issues relating to the operation of two control centres, including establishing the measures that would be necessary to effect a smooth transfer from Dublin while ensuring that full co-ordination capability is maintained at all times.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Government decided to transfer responsibility for maritime transport matters, including maritime safety and the coast guard, to the Department of Transport with effect from 1 January this year. In this context, and with a view to the closer integration of maritime transport functions into overall transport policy, I have asked my officials to review current and proposed arrangements for the delivery of maritime transport services, including marine rescue co-ordination, and to report back to me.

Photo of Róisín ShortallRóisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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I take it from what the Minister has said that the plan is to scrap the proposal for the Dublin marine rescue centre and that services will just be provided from Valentia and Malin Head. It seems an extraordinary decision that there will be no service on the east coast where the bulk of activity on our seas takes place. The Minister had the option of going ahead with the Dublin centre as proposed or he could have moved the service to Drogheda. Is the Minister saying there will be no marine rescue service operating along the full length of the east coast?

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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We are at cross-purposes.

Photo of Róisín ShortallRóisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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The radio centre——

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Is the Deputy referring to the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre?

Photo of Róisín ShortallRóisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Yes. Will the centre not have two bases?

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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No, but perhaps I conveyed that. I was saying it is a question of whether the centre in Dublin should be located at the big headquarters in Drogheda and whether we should marshal the centres in Valentia and Malin as two other centres. Rather than recommending having the Maritime Safety Directorate on its own in Drogheda, the review stated the big Dublin centre might be incorporated into it such that there would be one body in the same area. That would be based here and then one would consider the other two centres. That is how I understand the matter and I hope I have conveyed it correctly to the Deputy.

Photo of Róisín ShortallRóisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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The service is to go ahead in Dublin.

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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No. The service exists in Dublin but when the decision was made to move the Maritime Safety Directorate to Drogheda, those involved also considered moving the centre in Dublin. A proposal, which has not been signed off, has been made to include the latter with the development in Drogheda as opposed to leaving it in Dublin. There would also be two outreach centres, in Valentia and Malin.

Photo of Róisín ShortallRóisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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I believe the Minister said in his reply there would only be the two centres, at Malin and Valentia.

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Yes, because there are effectively three independent centres at present. If I put together the two headquarters, that is, the Dublin Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre and the Maritime Safety Directorate, this would effectively leave two independent centres elsewhere. However, these two independent centres would be under the auspices of the main centre in Drogheda. That is how I understand it and I hope I have stated it to the Deputy correctly.

Photo of Róisín ShortallRóisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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The staff in the Dublin centre are in limbo. Will they definitely be moving to Drogheda?

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The final decision has not been taken. I have only received the information. The proposal was teased out and it was recommended that the centre in Dublin should move in that direction. However, it is not finalised and it has only come to me——

Photo of Róisín ShortallRóisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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When will the Minister finalise it?

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I would like to do so very quickly because the staff need clarity in terms of the decentralisation programme. The proposal has just been forwarded to me and, having gone through it very quickly, my sense of it is as I have outlined. If the Deputy tables a parliamentary question, I hope I will have reached a definitive position when making my response. I hope I have conveyed the position to the Deputy correctly but I have not immersed myself in the detail. I have outlined my grasp of the matter.

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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On emergency co-ordination, the plan was to close the Dublin centre and transfer the staff to Valentia. The reality is that there is no appetite among the staff to transfer there. It has been pointed out that it would be extremely dangerous to transfer the centre to Valentia given that the vast majority of emergency-related activities take place on the east coast. The connection between the men on the ground and those who co-ordinate rescue missions would be broken entirely. Whatever the plan is for Drogheda, it has absolutely nothing to do with the co-ordination of sea rescue. There are nuclear ships and other vessels passing along the east coast and this is where the demand is. I urge the Minister to re-examine the report. It stated two centres would be sufficient but it was never dreamt that the centre in Dublin, on the east coast, would be closed.

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I have outlined to the Deputies my understanding of the issue. Frankly, am not convinced the matter has been thought through to the nth degree. If Deputy Olivia Mitchell tables a parliamentary question, I will tease out the matter with her. I would be a bit concerned if the entire east coast were not party to the new arrangement——

Photo of Róisín ShortallRóisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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That is what the Minister's reply said.

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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——such that there would be a minimum of one on the east coast and one on the west coast.

Photo of Róisín ShortallRóisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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That would be rational.

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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My understanding was that the Maritime Safety Directorate in Drogheda would form part of that arrangement — maybe this is an assumption and I could be wrong.

Photo of Róisín ShortallRóisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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That is what the Minister's reply said.

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy may be correct but that is how I understand the matter. I promise I will return to the Deputy on the matter and try to give her a fuller answer.

Photo of Róisín ShortallRóisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Will the Minister communicate directly with our offices in the next week to clarify the position?

Photo of Olivia MitchellOlivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I would appreciate that also.

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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As soon as I know the position I will try to clarify that point. If the proposal is to have no centre on the east coast and two elsewhere, I would be concerned about it.

Photo of Róisín ShortallRóisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Perhaps the Minister will clarify his reply in the next few days.

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I will.