Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 26: To ask the Minister for Transport if there will be job losses as a result of the removal of Marine Resource Co-ordination Centres in Valentia and Malin Head. [32856/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I would like to assure the Deputy that there will be no job losses arising from the change of Coast Guard functions for the Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centres at Valentia and Malin Head. As the Deputy is no doubt aware, I have recently announced an enhancement of the marine emergency response capability in Ireland involving an investment programme to create two state of the art Marine Co-ordination Centres, one in Drogheda and another on the west coast.

The Valentia and Malin Head premises will remain part of the Coast Guard infrastructure, they will be staffed and some operations will continue to be delivered from the locations. The precise nature of the long-term function has yet to be finalised.

The process of migrating from the present situation to the new developments will be planned and implemented in consultation with staff interests. That process will take account of the safety needs of local communities, ongoing improvement of the service to the public and the concerns of individual staff members.