Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in view of the fact that the digital communication equipment, which was in storage in Dublin for the past five years, is now being moved to the Marine Rescue Centre, Valentia Island, County Kerry, if he will state the reason for waiting from 2009 after purchasing the equipment until now to take it to Valentia to be installed; when this new communication technology will come into service in Valentia; the investment it will take to bring this equipment into operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52089/12]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The new integrated communications equipment was delivered to Coast Guard stores in Blanchardstown Dublin at the end of 2009.  The installation project consists of six main phases.

First phase was to evacuate the existing marine rescue coordination centre (MRCC) in Dublin on foot of an OPW notice that the building would be sold. At the same time the new National Maritime Operations Centre (NMOC) in Leeson Lane Dublin was provided incorporating the moved MRCC.

The third phase was to go live in the NMOC using the east coast aerial sites whilst running in tandem with the existing old technology equipment. This was completed in December 2010. The fourth phase saw the remainder of the national aerial sites connected to the NMOC throughout 2011, thus putting in place the essential communications service architecture and network connections as well as the preparatory work in advance of the final installation of the new equipment in Malin and Valentia. 

2012 has seen the installation of the equipment in Malin MRSC and the system is now live there. The activation of Valentia MRSC (Phase 6) is well underway and will be completed early in 2013. 

I am advised that it would have been unsafe to have attempted switchover in either Malin or Valentia until the first four phases were complete.

Costs for Valentia so far are approximately €34,000 for engineering and €50,000 for general refurbishment. The total cost is €84,000.