Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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96. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on a development (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40242/24]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish Coast Guard, a Division within the Department of Transport, has 44 Volunteer Units based around the coast of Ireland. The Coast Guard building programme, which includes the provision of new or upgraded facilities for volunteers, is managed by the Office of Public Works (OPW) on behalf of the Department of Transport. These projects are funded by the Department of Transport.

The OPW provides advice and assistance on the design of such projects, site feasibility studies, acquisition of sites, planning and detail design, contractor procurement and manages the delivery in line with the requirements of the Department of Transport and Coast Guard Service.

New accommodation for the Ballyglass & Belmullet Coast Guard Unit is included as one of the key priorities on the Coast Guard programme and the identification of suitable sites is ongoing. The identification of options, and subsequent acquisition of a site, is being progressed in accordance with the requirements of the Infrastructure Guidelines.

Following completion of a Multi-Criteria Analysis and feasibility studies, a preferred site was selected following consultation between the OPW and the Department of Transport. As this is at an early and commercially sensitive stage, we are not in a position to provide further information on individual sites at this time. Subsequent to a suitable site being procured, the project will progress to planning and construction stage.