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Coast Guard upgrade ‘shortly’
20.06.11
by Caoimhinn Barr, Inishowen Independent
AN Inishowen county councillor has moved to allay
fears over outdated equipment at Malin Coast Guard
station confirming that new machines will be
installed at the northern outpost ‘shortly’.
Claims that equipment at the Inishowen marine safety
centre is dangerously obsolete and could lead to
loss of life have caused much alarm recently.
Fianna Fáil senator Mark Daly alleged that existing
equipment at Malin Head and Valentia Coastguard
Stations "is liable to catastrophic failure at any
moment".
The Senator also claimed that €5 million worth of
new machinery is "sitting in boxes at the Coast
Guard facility in Blanchardston". |
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The Irish Coast Guard station at
Malin Head. |
Culdaff councillor,
Bernard McGuinness, said it was vital that the work
begins at Malin Head quickly. He confirmed that
Donegal North East TD Joe McHugh is currently
working behind the scenes to resolve the issue.
“It is absolutely vital that this important
equipment is installed as soon as possible. The
present government has inherited this problem from
Fianna Fáil but I have spoken to Joe [McHugh] and
I’m assured that work will begin to put in the new
machines shortly,” he said.
Cllr McGuinness is also advocating a new visitor
centre incorporating a viewing area at Ireland’s
most northerly Coast Guard Station. “This could be a
good tourist attraction for the area,” he added.
Currently Irish Coast Guard stations fall under the
remit of Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar but it
is understood that the Government is considering
moving responsibility for the safety facilities back
to the Department of Marine, headed by Minister
Simon Coveney.
The Department of Transport said the situation at
Malin Head is not affecting the ability of the Coast
Guard to do its job. |
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