Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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35. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will support the reinstatement of the Coast Guard Unit Cliff Rescue Service in An Bun Beag; the other supports he will make available to communities along the Wild Atlantic Way to ensure a high standard of safety is established within the tourism sector, as tourist numbers are set to increase in County Donegal and other counties along the Wild Atlantic Way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31946/15]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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​The Coast Guard, a Division of my Department, has monitored the level of cliff rescue call outs responded to by the Bunbeg Coast Guard Unit (CGU). Since the establishment of a cliff rescue service in the late 90s, the Unit has not been called upon to intervene in any lifesaving cliff recovery incident. This level of response does not justify the maintenance of a cliff rescue service, having regard to the risk associated with this activity. 

Within County Donegal three volunteer CGUs are trained and equipped to provide cliff rescue services. While in Co. Mayo, the Coast Guard is working with the Office of Public Works with a view to commencing construction of a new purpose built Station in Westport in early 2016, and active consideration is being given to the construction of a new station to replace the existing CGU in Ballyglass.  In addition, the Sligo based Coast Guard helicopter is equipped to provide a day and night response to coastal emergencies, in addition to RNLI capabilities.  

I am aware of local concerns, on the matter of Bunbeg and of the welcome growth of tourism and the increased level of adventure activities in the area.  However, you will appreciate that where a rescue service is provided; every effort must be made to ensure that the benefits outweigh the risks. It is in this context that the maintenance of a cliff rescue team has been de-prioritised. The primary duty to ensure the safety of people taking part in adventure activities rests with the provider of these activities.

The Bunbeg Unit continues to be a well-resourced unit and is well equipped to fulfil its designated roles as a shoreline search team and rescue boat unit. I should also clarify that while the Coast Guard will use its best endeavours to coordinate the response to any coastal emergency, the remit of the volunteer Coast Guard service does not extend to being a designated safety provider to adventure and risk taking sports or commercial providers of such services. ​