John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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103. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to provide an update on plans, including timeframe to develop a new Coastguard station at Greystones Harbour for the Coastguard service; to provide an explanation for the delays on this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15926/25]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Transport (DoT) is responsible for the investment in the Irish Coast Guard (IRCG) building programme aimed at ensuring that Coast Guard facilities along the coast are fit for purpose.

The programme is fully funded by the DoT as Approving Authority, with project delivery managed by the Office of Public Works (OPW) as the Contracting Authority, from planning and design to construction and ongoing maintenance.

The investment priorities are decided, and the entire IRCG capital programme overseen, by a Programme Oversight Group consisting of representatives of the DoT, the IRCG and the OPW at Principal Officer level. The IRCG is responsible, as Sponsoring Authority, to develop business cases for all projects, in line with the Infrasructure Guidelines, for presentation to the Department for its approval.

The Greystones IRCG station project is a challenging project and has experienced some delays arising from specific issues. It is located in a challenging marine environment which impacts on all aspects of design, build and operations in the future. There were several design revisions aimed at achieving value for money and these processes take time. A new planning application was required part-way through the project and more recently, it was challenging to secure vacant possession of the site. Finally there were challenges in earlier procurement processes relating to competitiveness.

These issues have now been addressed and the project was approved by DoT to proceed to tender on 17th December 2024. Tenders were returned on 25th March 2025 and are currently being assessed. It is anticipated the OPW will be in a position to provide a tender assessment report and recommendation to DoT by the end of April 2025, seeking their approval as Approving Authority under the Infrastructure Guidelines to place the construction contract with the preferred bidder.