Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. I thank the Minister for taking this issue on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan. While I appreciate that the Office of Public Works, OPW, is not his direct area of responsibility, this matter relates to the Coast Guard in Courtown, an area of the world the Minister is very familiar with. He will know that the Coast Guard in Courtown does not just service the north Wexford area, but also Arklow and much of south Wicklow. I join in the congratulations to the Coast Guard, which is marking its bicentenary. There is a new Coast Guard station in Greystones. I hope that we will now finally see some progress on the station in Courtown.

Although I have raised this issue a number of times in the Seanad, I last raised it as a Commencement matter on 24 February. The Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton, took the matter at that time. The station is one of the old rocket house-type stations. Some 22 crew, male and female, operate from it. It is a single-room operation with no toilet. There are common changing facilities for male and female Coast Guard operators. In answering at the time, the Minister of State acknowledged that it was very clear that there were health and safety concerns in respect of this Coast Guard station and that it was not suitable in the modern environment. She said that the OPW had carried out some preliminary work in identifying sites and that this was a priority facility. She was very clear that its development was a priority. During the summer, the Minister of State visited this facility and fully accepted the need for and importance of progress on this matter.

Six sites were originally identified, although they were not necessarily deemed suitable. Wexford County Council worked with the Coast Guard and the OPW to identify potential sites and a site was very clearly identified. The owners of the site were happy to look at putting it up for sale but there does not seem to have been any progress. I hope the Minister will be able to provide us with a report on progress since I asked this question in February and since the Minister of State's visit, when we were told that this was a priority for the OPW and that it had been carrying out work. I know this is something Government is committed to. We have provided significant funding for the development of our Coast Guard stations. However, for some reason, the OPW does not seem to be prioritising the facility at Courtown. I hope the Minister will be able to give me some positive news today.