Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Parlon. I wish to raise this important matter which I have previously raised in the House. It relates to the provision of a station house at Doolin, County Clare, for the coastguard search and rescue service. This issue was brought into sharp focus last November when four young men lost their lives in the Atlantic ocean off the Clare coast. While it is very clear that the existence of a modern station house would not have saved their lives, it would certainly have helped to alleviate the trauma suffered by the rescue team and the families of the victims who were involved in a very prolonged search for the bodies. This search went on for over a week, creating major difficulties, particularly for the rescue team and the families and members of the public who assisted in the search.

The Minister of State is aware that there was great momentum to resolve this issue, which has been ongoing for over eight years, in the aftermath of this tragedy. I thank the Minister of State for his involvement, for meeting with the delegation from the group in Doolin and for the interest he has shown in this case. He is aware of the complication that arose in respect of the identification of a site, which has now been resolved and, more importantly, the purchase of this site. The Department of Finance, through the Office of Public Works, is responsible for the purchase of this site. I understand that the coast guard has already assigned a budget towards the construction of the station house on the site. Therefore, the major issue concerns the acquisition of the site.

There are a number of volunteers involved in the service who work tirelessly throughout the year. They are called out on rescue missions approximately 30 times a year, which is a fairly high call-out rate across the network of rescue services around the country. The Minister of State will know from his meeting with the group that the current building dates back to the 1920s and contains no toilets, showers or a command station for the effective operation of a rescue mission. The building is subject to flooding and volunteers are sometimes forced to sandbank doors, which is unacceptable.

Critically, there is no capacity to store the rescue boat or any other rescue equipment on the site. The lifeboat is currently stored one and a half miles away from the launch point in a location that means it must be drawn through the main street. At this time of the year, Doolin is very busy with tourists. It is blatantly obvious that if there was a requirement to launch the boat in an emergency, critical time would be lost in getting it to the launch point. I do not wish to be alarmist but this may lead to loss of life, which might not occur if the boat could be launched from the nearest position. This is probably one of the critical issues. Volunteers are seeking the facilities but the critical factor is the fact that the lifeboat is not located at the launch site.

I am aware that there have been various complications in respect of the identification and valuation of the site. As the Minister of State is aware, a specific site has now been identified. The landowner has agreed to sell the site and I understand that money has been set aside by the coast guard out of its budget to build the facility. All that is needed is for the Department of Finance to purchase the site. I ask the Minister of State to do all he can to create the impetus within the Department to resolve this matter. We are now heading into the summer period. The good weather we have enjoyed, particularly over the last weekend, has brought into sharp focus the dangers that exist, particularly given the greater use of the Atlantic and the central role played by the search and rescue service in Doolin in protecting the people who enjoy the water facilities in this area. I hope that the Minister of State can indicate where matters stand in respect of this project and I thank him for the efforts he has made during his period in office.

Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)
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I thank Senator Dooley for raising this issue. The Commissioners of Public Works work closely with the Irish Coast Guard service in respect of the provision of suitable facilities around the country. In this regard, they have been seeking a site for Doolin coast guard station for some time. This has proved to be a long drawn out process due to the lack of availability of suitable sites. A site has now been identified and the Commissioners of Public Works inform me that their valuers are in negotiation with the landowner in question in respect of a conditional offer for sale received from him. It is difficult to predict at this stage how long these negotiations could take. However, I wish to assure Senator Dooley that every effort is being made to bring the negotiations to a successful conclusion.

Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for his reply.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Does Senator Dooley have a question for the Minister of State?

Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail)
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Depending on which side one talks to, it has been suggested that there has only been vague contact between an individual in the Department of Finance negotiating on its behalf and an agent representing the landowner. I do not know the departmental official in question. Time has elapsed. I am aware that the Minister of State understands the need to ensure that there are no further incidents which could lead to loss of life as a result of the lack of this facility. I am aware that money is involved and that the State has a duty to the taxpayer to ensure it gets the best value for money but what is the best value for money at this stage?

We are heading into a period where a life could be lost in the time it takes to bring the lifeboat from its current location to the launch point. If such a tragedy occurs, I have no doubt money will be thrown at the problem, the valuers pushed aside and a decision made. Given that he is responsible for the Office of Public Works, I ask the Minister of State to ensure this decision is taken. I am not suggesting he does anything improper in respect of State finances but the matter must be weighed up in terms of the value of a life, the potential for loss of life and the associated costs. I appeal to the Minister of State to work to bring about the acquisition of this site without delay.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Does the Minister of State wish to respond?

Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)
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I assure Senator Dooley that no stone will be left unturned to try to bring a successful conclusion to these negotiations.