Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a breakdown of the number of coastguard units in County Louth; and the number of boats attached to each. [7115/13]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Primary maritime search and rescue services in Co Louth are provided by a combination of the Clogherhead based Royal National Lifeboat Institutions All Weather Lifeboat and two volunteer Coast Guard boat units, based in Drogheda and at Greenore. The Drogheda unit is provided with a D Class RNLI-built boat and a small three metre inflatable boat for upriver use on the Boyne. The Greenore unit is provided with a 6.5 metre rib (ridged inflatable boat). Both Greenore and Drogheda Coast Guard Boat Units provide the necessary inshore boat capacity required. These services are supported by a third Volunteer Coast Guard unit based in Clogherhead which is designated as a shoreline search unit which can provide a search and first aid capacity for anything occurring on land or coming ashore. County Louth is also serviced by the Dublin Coast Guard helicopter based at Dublin Airport.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his future plans for Clogherhead Coastguard, County Louth, with respect to the provision of equipment and the recruitment, training and upskilling of new members. [7116/13]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Clogherhead Volunteer Coast Guard Unit is designated as a shoreline search unit and supports their neighbouring Co. Louth units in Drogheda and Greenore. Coast Guard policy facilitates such inter unit cooperation in relation to maritime emergency preparation and response.

All Coast Guard units are provided with a suite of equipment deemed necessary to conduct their assigned roles and tasks. Shoreline units are also normally provided with a 4x4 commercial vehicle and an All-Terrain Vehicle (commonly called a Quad bike). Clogherhead has both these vehicles and also has the temporary placement of a van. The equipment requirements and the need for additional members is kept under on-going review. All new and current members are provided with the requisite courses and training.