Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 209: To ask the Minister for Transport the rationale behind the proposed closures of the Valentia coast guard station and Malin Head coast guard radio station, Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28607/07]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 210: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has carried out financial, safety and operational assessments on the proposed transfer of the Valentia coast guard station and Malin Head coast guard radio station to another location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28608/07]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 211: To ask the Minister for Transport if the opinions of local services such as lifeboats, fishing community and other users in the maritime community, that is, the Naval Service, coast guard, customs, rescue services, gardaí, fisheries officers, drug enforcement officers and other interested parties, have been sought in relation to the proposals for the future use of Valentia coast guard station and Malin Head coast guard station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28609/07]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 212: To ask the Minister for Transport the way the proposed move of the Valentia coast guard station and the Malin Head coast guard station can be financially, operationally or functionally more effective than the existing arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28610/07]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 213: To ask the Minister for Transport the way the decades of experience of the current staff of the Valentia and Malin Head coast guard stations can be replaced by new staff in a new location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28611/07]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 214: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will confirm that suitable experienced staff can be recruited for the proposed new locations for the Valentia and Malin Head coast guard stations; the reasons for the choice of the new locations and the benefits that these locations have over the existing locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28612/07]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 215: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will confirm that the new locations for the Valentia and Malin Head coast guard stations have interested technical capacity to carry out the existing functions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28613/07]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 216: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has consulted with the relevant international bodies involved in search, rescue, drug and crime prevention and fisheries protection, in relation to the proposed relocation of the Valentia and Malin Head coast guard stations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28614/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 209 to 216, inclusive, together.

I think it is important to put the relevant decisions in context and to assure the Deputy that these decisions have been taken against a background of increased focus on, and support for, the maritime safety sector. It is my intention that the Irish Coast Guard and Maritime Administration will be strengthened on an ongoing basis over the coming years. My ambition is to put in place a service which will meet the needs of this country well in the 21st century.

The communications system is the backbone infrastructure on which Coast Guard operations depend. It is essential that it is of high quality, efficient, effective and that it provides value for money. I am concerned at the state of the present equipment and have confirmed that a €2 million investment in essential equipment should proceed without any further delay. I have also confirmed that this equipment should be sufficient to operate two fully manned Co-Ordination centres. Each centre will have the capability to run the entire Coast Guard network which will allow for a seamless transfer of co-ordination should one centre become suddenly unworkable for any reason. I have also confirmed that locating one on the east coast and one on the west coast is the preferred option and that the east coast centre should be co-located with the HQ. These decisions were made against the background of a study completed by Deloitte and Touche in 2002.

In relation to the west coast I consider that the site should provide a technically robust location and also be situated where all the staff at the centre can live within close proximity to enable them to be called on in an emergency. I have not decided where that location should be.

I purposely outlined the long-term scenario on this basis to provide a framework for negotiations, which are now taking place, on how best to implement this particular step in the modernisation of the Irish Coast Guard. I have given direction to the tendering process so that it can proceed, and given enough notice to enable difficulties to be identified and resolved before equipment has to be installed. I have made it clear that these discussions, which are underway, must take account of the safety needs of local communities, and ongoing improvement of the service to the public, and the concerns of individual staff members.

In relation to staff, I also want to restate my deeply held appreciation of the work done by those working in these centres today. I do not want to, nor do I intend to lose the emergency management expertise that has been developed and indeed I am determined to ensure that it is retained for future generations. At an individual level, no one will lose their job in this process. Nor will they be forced to move to new locations. This presents challenges, as it does in the decentralisation programme, but they are challenges that are being discussed with the staff involved and that will be overcome in consultation with them.

The issue was discussed at a meeting of the Marine Emergency Advisory Group, which is a strategic high level advisory group, and will be discussed further with representatives of national and neighbouring marine search and rescue stakeholders in the Irish Marine Search and Rescue Committee next month. I note the point made by the Deputy in relation to consultation with other local services who might have an interest in using the Coast Guard locations in the future and will explore this particular aspect. However, neither location has ready access to the sea and this may be a limiting factor.

The Irish Coast Guard has no responsibility for drug and crime prevention and fisheries protection, at present. In relation to international bodies providing similar services, while it is technically feasible to operate these services from outside the country, my preference is for both locations to be on this island. It would be my intention that where we can provide support to others internationally we should be in a position to do so and indeed I consider that this is likely to be an increasingly important role for Ireland in the future.