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Three existing marine rescue centres are to be retained

  • 03-12-2008 9:25am
    #1
    Tabnabs
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 15,790 Mod ✭✭✭✭


    OPPOSITION PARTIES have welcomed the Government's decision to retain the existing marine rescue centres in Dublin and at Malin and Valentia, which was announced yesterday by Minister of State for Transport Noel Ahern.

    "The Government, having considered the matter fully and taken into account the various views expressed, has decided to retain the present configuration for the delivery of marine rescue co-ordination," Mr Ahern said in a statement.

    "This is based on a marine rescue co-ordination centre in Dublin and two sub-centres at Malin and Valentia. The need to urgently upgrade the existing equipment has been recognised and the purchase of three Integrated Communication System cores at a cost of approximately €2.5 million has been approved. One will be located at each centre," the Minister of State added.

    "Proposals to develop the Dublin centre, where a move from the present location is necessary, are under way. This will improve the function and capacity of this location as a full marine rescue co-ordination centre. Building work is expected to commence in 2009." Proposals had been under consideration at the Department of Transport to close the existing facilities in Dublin, Malin and Valentia and replace them with two new centres.

    Opposition transport spokesman Fergus O'Dowd said: "Fine Gael welcomes the retention of the marine rescue centres in their traditional locations. There was never a cogent argument for closing down an efficient and effective service in these places, which would be disadvantaged in terms of employment in any case."

    Labour's transport spokesman Tommy Broughan said: "I want to very warmly welcome Minister Ahern's decision. It's the right decision on safety grounds, quite apart from its importance in terms of employment and the local community in northeast Donegal and south Kerry. I also welcome the maintenance of a facility on the east coast, given the huge numbers of mariners and travellers on the Irish Sea at any particular moment."

    Donegal South West TD Pat "The Cope" Gallagher said: "I am delighted that Minister Ahern, having considered this matter, has confirmed this news and the sanctioning of considerable funding for new equipment at the centres."

    Fr John Joe Duffy, a priest from Arranmore Island in Co Donegal who has been campaigning for the services at Valentia and Malin Head to be improved, said: "I'm delighted we who are in the peripheries can sleep much happier in the knowledge that the expertise of the personnel at Malin Head and Valentia are being retained and that they will have fully upgraded sets of equipment in 2010."

    http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/1203/1228234992560.html


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