Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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180. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a report on the provision of a new Coast Guard station in Killaloe, County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60029/22]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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My Department is responsible for the Irish Coast Guard (IRCG) building programme – essentially aimed at ensuring Coast Guard Units along the coast are fit for purpose. The programme is managed through the Office of Public Works (OPW) from planning design to build and on-going maintenance, with legal assistance as necessary from the Chief State Solicitor’s Office.

The provision of a new Coast Guard station for the Killaloe Unit has been a priority on the Building Programme for the IRCG for a number of years.

The Killaloe IRCG Unit is currently based in a site on the banks of Lough Derg in a small area licensed from the ESB. The site is not a viable long term option for the unit and does not meet the required standards of accommodation for the IRCG Volunteers.

The Office of Public Works has been requested to locate a suitable site for a new coast guard station in the area. Their Property Advisory Services team is currently carrying out investigations including a full market trawl to help identify all viable options available to the unit.

On receipt of the report of these investigations, IRCG will then be in a position to make a decision on the best location for the new Coast Guard Station and proceed to the site acquisition phase.