Coast Guard Service
Dail Éireann — 2026-05-14
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Malcolm Byrne (FF), Wicklow-Wexford

I thank the Minister of State but it is very clear the Department has not been listening or engaging with the local Coast Guard unit. The Minister of State said it himself. It is operating under licence, not even under a lease, in a local parochial house. By the way, in order for the vehicles to come out of that parochial house they have to go through the churchyard. When there is a wedding or a funeral or, at this time of the year, a confirmation or communion, you can imagine the difficulty. I cannot believe the Minister of State is saying to the House that it is suitable. He referenced the facility built in Westport and he is very familiar with it. Why are people in Courtown and across the coast of south Wicklow and north Wexford being denied a proper facility that was promised? We had been told by several Ministers that it was priority for the Department. It is not viewed as suitable. The case made by the Minister of State about a modern fit-for-purpose premises. There was no consultation with the local Coast Guard. Does the Minister of State really believe that a parochial house under licence represents a suitable building for a modern fit-for-purpose Coast Guard? I do not accept this is the case.
As a matter of urgency will the Minister of State ask the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, to meet with the local Coast Guard to talk to them about their needs as volunteers in the community? That is so we finally see the commitment that has been given by several Ministers, including the identification of a preferred site, to see a proper Coast Guard facility provided in Courtown.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-05-14/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:56+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-05-14