Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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122. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the additional funding for the Irish Coast Guard in budget 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35782/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Capital allocation in Budget 2021 for the Irish Coast Guard is €8.6m which is an increase on the 2020 allocation by €2.9m. The bulk of this (€6m) will be spent on the IRCG Building Programme with €3m at Greystones and €3m at Westport. Upgraded stations will typically include a kitchenette, male and female toilets, showering and changing facilities as well as a classroom/meeting room, operations room and garage space. Modernisation of Coast Guard buildings will assist in lifesaving Services and maintain operational readiness of Coast Guard. The balance of the capital funding will be spread over IT, Boat Replacement and Marine Communication Infrastructure.

The Current allocation is primarily used for the provision of the CHC Search and Rescue Helicopter. The Budget allocation for 2021 is €70.75m which is unchanged from 2020.