Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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170. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress made to date in providing a permanent base for the Coast Guard unit based in the west Connemara area (Clifden-Cleggan-Renvyle area); the date a decision was originally made to explore the possibility of such a permanent base; the date the present temporary base was established at the airstrip in Cluain Leacht an Abba, An Cloigeann, Conamara; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28903/24]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Transport is responsible for the Irish Coast Guard (IRCG) building programme, which aims to ensure that Coast Guard stations along the coast are fit for purpose. The programme is managed through the Office of Public Works (OPW), from planning and design to build and on-going maintenance.

The Cleggan Unit are on the priority list for the IRCG Building Programme.

In 2015, draft drawings were submitted to the Department for review from the Office of Public Works (OPW) to explore the possibility for both temporary and permanent facilities for the Cleggan Coast Guard Unit.

Since 2017, the Cleggan Coast Guard Unit has operated out of the temporary base at the Department of Rural & Community Development airstrip site. The Unit also has possession of their original Coast Guard rocket house at Cleggan pier which is used as a storage facility.

Coast Guard rocket houses, including Cleggan’s, are suitable to meet the storage needs of an IRCG unit but not the welfare needs of Coast Guard volunteers and are, for the most part, in use as secondary unit buildings. Cleggan Coast Guard Unit vehicles and equipment remain at the Cleggan air strip which is primarily another storage facility.

An interim arrangement has been provided in recent years for the Cleggan Unit with the local community centre for use of meeting and welfare facilities. More recently this has been enhanced by a further arrangement with the Station House Hotel in Clifden for use of facilities, for training purposes.

OPW has been tasked with locating a suitable site for the Cleggan Unit. To give the most recent developments, In March 2024, OPW were requested to provide a high-level estimate for development of this site. This includes evaluating the airstrip site and any other possible sites available in the area that meet the functional requirements of the IRCG. Under the Public Spending Code OPW must evaluate all potential sites in the units tasking area.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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171. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he intends visiting the temporary base of the Coast Guard in Cluain Leacht an Abba, An Cloigeann, Conamara, in the coming two months to familiarise himself with the present facilities there and the need for a permanent base in the area for the Coast Guard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28904/24]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister will be meeting with all relevant stakeholders in his new areas of responsibility in the coming months and looks forward to familiarising himself on the Irish Coast Guard (IRCG) Division and the IRCG Building programme. The Minister's Diary Secretary will be in touch with department officials in relation to this shortly.