Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)
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This issue concerns the absolute uncertainty of the future of the Malin Head Coast Guard station. I appreciate the fact that the Minister of State, Deputy Perry, is here this evening, although he does not have direct responsibility for Coast Guard stations. I had hoped the Minister for Transport, Deputy Varadkar, would be here to respond on this issue, but I appreciate he may have other business.

This issue also affects communities in Valentia, Kerry, from where my colleague, Senator Mark Daly, comes. He is working on a campaign in that part of the country. It also affects communities in Donegal and the north west area. The Minister of State may recall that back in 2008 after a long campaign to keep the stations at Valentia and Malin Head open, the then Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey, announced that the Government planned to keep Malin Head and Valentia open.

He also pledged to upgrade all three centres, including the centre in Dublin, to the tune of ¤2.5 million. The Dublin station has now been fully upgraded, as has the Malin Head station, following an investment of approximately ¤721,000. I understand that Valentia is also to be upgraded.

In 2011, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, for some reason, engaged the consultancy group Fisher Associates, to carry out yet another review, despite the fact that there were numerous previous reviews. I wish to know the cost of that review. The findings of the final report were released on 5 July and one of the recommendations was that the number of rescue stations should be reduced from three to two, with the Malin Head Coast Guard station closing. So far, the Minister has only responded by saying that the recommendations contained in the report are being considered by his Department and that his officials are due to report back to him some time in October. This is creating great uncertainty in Donegal and along the west coast. Historically, Malin Head is the oldest operating radio station in Europe and should be allowed to continue. Why close a station that has operated flawlessly for over 100 years?

It was decided in 2008, following a long and drawn out campaign, that the Malin Head and Valentia stations would be upgraded and kept open. Their future was secured. Work on the Malin Head station was completed in August. That work involved technical, operational and infrastructural developments within the station, which will ensure that it is fully up to standard now and into the future. It seems crazy that after carrying out that substantial work and after the previous Government deciding to secure the future of the Malin Head station, there would be any question surrounding its future. It is equally crazy that yet another consultant's report is being considered by officials within the Department.

The area where Malin Head and Valentia provide their services, with its large number of islands and inlets, has the longest coastline per station coverage in Europe. If the Government reduces the number of centres to two, taking into consideration the Dublin centre, it will result in each centre covering 3,700 km of coastline. That is simply not safe. A British House of Commons select committee recently highlighted the fact that closing coast guard stations along the British coastline led to an increase in the loss of life at sea. We are jeopardising peoples' lives in trying to save a few miserable euro by closing down a coast guard station, after spending ¤2.5 million on upgrading the three centres we currently have. A report is being considered but a decision was made in 2008 and the Government should not go back on that decision, particularly after an investment in the upgrading of the stations was made. I hope the Minister of State will have some good news.

John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Senator for raising this very important issue. I am taking this Adjournment debate on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.

As part of the Croke Park agreement, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport engaged a specialist international maritime transport management consultancy, Fisher Associates, to undertake a value for money review of services provided by the Irish Coast Guard, IRCG, and the marine survey office, MSO. These reports were published by the Department on 5 July 2012. The IRCG and the MSO are internal divisions of the Department and are not separate statutory agencies. Taken together, the reports call for a comprehensive integrated programme of work to enhance maritime safety and emergency response services. Among the issues identified by the Fisher Associates review was the need to enhance, as a priority, Ireland's capacity to prepare for and respond to major oil pollution incidents. The review also found that more support is needed for the volunteers in our coastal rescue units, particularly in the areas of improved training courses, oversight and supervision, day-to-day management, risk and quality control. The review found that a significant backlog in transposing legislative provisions into Irish law needs to be addressed, as does Ireland's additional inspection obligations. Furthermore, improved administrative and IT systems are needed to support delivery of services and the development of management and accountability systems across the maritime safety services. The Fisher report concluded that such systems would contribute to alleviating staff shortages and it recommends that realistic fees should be charged for the services provided by the MSO. It also pointed out the need for improved risk management and for periodic reviews and auditing of operational arrangements. The report also calls for improved communications, both internally and with stakeholders and other partners, for enhanced service delivery.

The Minister has informed the Government that the issues raised in the reports will be examined by the Department and that he proposes to present an action plan in October, addressing the deficiencies identified. The issues that have been identified in the report for action are serious and must be addressed, particularly in relation to oil pollution response capacity and volunteer training and management. The Minister has made it clear that he does not propose to accept or reject any of the recommendations in the Fisher report at this stage. Furthermore, no decisions have been taken at this time in relation to these matters. In preparing the action plan, the Department will assess each recommendation and will prioritise actions to address the deficiencies. That process will call for tough decisions to be made. It is important to recognise that resources available to the maritime services are very limited and must be deployed on a prioritised basis and as effectively and efficiently as possible to address the most urgent needs. Having robust and efficient maritime safety regulatory arrangements and emergency response services in place will also be crucial for the development of shipping trade and employment, which have a key role to play in Ireland's economic recovery.

I also take the opportunity to inform the House that new communications systems have been installed in Malin Head centre as part of the general upgrading of the communications systems infrastructure nationally.

Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)
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The response is very bleak. Lines such as, "That process will call for tough decisions to be made. It is important to recognise that resources available to the maritime services are very limited and must be deployed on a prioritised basis and as effectively and efficiently as possible to address the most urgent needs," do not read as a vote of confidence in the future of the Malin Head Coast Guard station. Many of my colleagues, from Fianna Fáil and other Opposition parties, as well as some members of the Government parties, have signed a petition calling for the head of the Coast Guard service and the Minister to come before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications to discuss this issue. That needs to happen soon and I believe the meeting is scheduled to take place on 24 October. This situation is urgent and the lack of a clear response from the Minister is disappointing. The Minister should come out at this stage and say, quite clearly, that one of the recommendations of the report is to close down a station but that he is not going to close any station. That is what should be said now, as a vote of confidence in the staff in Malin Head and the service being provided, and as a reassurance to the communities who benefit from that service, year after year, including the young man whose life was saved just outside Convoy this week as a result of the swift actions by the Malin Head Coast Guard station.

John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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The Minister has made it clear that he does not propose to accept or reject any of the recommendations. In preparing the action plan, the Department will assess each recommendation and will prioritise actions to address the deficiencies. This process will call for tough decisions. The Minister also points out that the new communications systems were installed in the Malin Head centre as part of a general upgrading of communications systems.

I would not be overly-pessimistic on this issue.

A report has been produced and it must be studied. When the Minister deals with the report, given the manner in which he does his business, the future position will be clear in respect of the points raised by the Senator with regard to the Coast Guard stations. The points raised are clear and effective and I have no doubt the Minister will take them on board in his final consideration.