Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 252: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will reconsider the decision to downgrade the marine stations at Valencia and Malin Head; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35505/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 252 and 258 to 260, inclusive, together.

As the Deputies are aware I have recently confirmed that new equipment should be procured to operate two fully manned marine rescue centres. 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 of the Irish Coast Guard and Maritime Administration. The east coast location is part of the Decentralisation Programme and the costs will be met as part of that Programme. The Office of Public Works is not yet in a position to finalise the cost of the relocation.

In relation to the west coast I consider that the site should provide an infrastructural and technically robust location and also be situated where all the staff at the centre will be encouraged to live within close proximity to enable them to be called on in an emergency. The Centres should be within a reasonable distance of each other to facilitate resilience and mutual support in the event of the loss of one centre, facilitate staff training and development and reduce associated costs. I have not yet decided where the location should be. The work to determine the best west coast site is in progress and the costs involved will be part of that process. The option of exploring funding such as Interreg Programme funding does not arise at present.

The existing centres at Malin and Valentia will not be closed or be disposed of as IRCG locations. The Stations will remain manned and details of what functions will be run from them have yet to be completed.

In relation to staff, I 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. I am not aware of a report on this subject carried out by senior Coast Guard executives in 2006.