Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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220. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason the commitments made by Ministers in his Department (details supplied) to this Deputy concerning Courtown Coastguard have not been met; the reason there has been a failure to deliver on the new Coastguard facility for Courtown; the person or body responsible for this inaction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [64678/25]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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Acknowledging that the existing Coast Guard station site at Courtown cannot accommodate additional facilities required to bring the station up to standard, the provision of a new station for the unit remains a priority of the IRCG building programme.

A potential site for a new Coast Guard Station at Courtown was identified following an appraisal process undertaken by the Department and the OPW in 2024.

The Infrastructure Guidelines allows for departmental review of capital expenditure at key stages of a project as set out in Section 2.2.2 Project Lifecycle and Approvals.

As part of a broader transformation programme across the IRCG, a key focus in 2025 has been the undertaking of a review of how facilities are provided for our IRCG Volunteers, with specifications that are appropriate to requirements. This exercise has involved extensive engagement with the OPW, resulting in an agreed, and recently launched, IRCG Building Strategy.

In this regard, the Department as Approving Authority subsequently requested that a further market trawl be carried out in Courtown. The provision of a new station will be reviewed in consideration of achieving value for money for the exchequer and in alignment with the new IRCG Building Strategy.

As an interim measure, my Department has secured accommodation for the Courtown Coast Guard Unit in the local parochial house. Arrangements to accommodate the Unit will remain in place until a new facility is provided.