Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

244. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans regarding the future of the Gweedore coast guard service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1888/15]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The principle roles of the Bunbeg volunteer Coast Guard Unit (CGU), located in the Gweedore area, are to operate a rescue boat, for which a new nine meter RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) was provided in 2011, and provision of a shoreline search team.

A Value for Money review of the Coast Guard service, published in 2012, recommended the continuation of boat and shoreline rescue service and cessation of cliff training for this unit, while retaining cliff rescue services in neighbouring CGU's, Mulroy and Killybegs. The recommendation arose principally because of the non-utilisation of the cliff service balanced against the safety considerations of delivering a highly technical and intrinsically hazardous activity.

The Coast Guard, having monitored the demand for cliff rescue services has noted that the level of call outs responded to by Bunbeg CGU does not justify the maintenance of a cliff rescue service. Since the establishment of a cliff rescue service in the late 90's, the team has not been called upon to intervene in any lifesaving cliff recovery incident. For a CGU to engage in a high risk activity that demands a high level of resources in terms of training time, equipment and supervision, the benefits must clearly outweigh the risks. The maintenance of a cliff rescue team has been deprioritised, thus enabling the unit to concentrate on its boat rescue and shoreline search operations, which are regularly called into action. The investment which my Department has made in the Coast Guard rescue helicopter services has mitigated some of the demands for cliff rescue services.

The Bunbeg CGU will continue to be a well-resourced team and I have recently provided a new off-road vehicle to support its roles. Enhancement of boat rescue services and shoreline search by the unit will continue to be the priority based on need and risk.