Clare Senator Tony Mulcahy says he has received confirmation from Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Mr. Leo Varadkar, T.D., of his decision to approve the construction of a new Volunteer Coast Guard Station in Doolin.
Doolin Volunteer Coast Guard unit is one of the busiest units in the country and operates a cliff rescue team, a boat unit and shoreline search team. The twenty four member team is supported by seven additional volunteers located on nearby Inis Oírr.
“Minister Varadkar has informed me that the project, to be overseen by the Office of Public Works (OPW) will be tendered within a matter of weeks with construction anticipated to commence by May. The new station will provide a garage area for the storage of boats, cliff rescue, personal equipment and transport, as well as changing facilities and an operations room. This development will be welcomed by members of the Doolin unit who have campaigned long and hard for the provision of such a facility,” stated Senator Mulcahy.
The Fine Gael Senator continued: “The unit has been operating from a shed at the seaside Carpark in Doolin, which has been problematic due to the site’s distance from the pier. Traffic issues on the approach road to the pier have also made it difficult for volunteer service members to transport their 9-metre-long rescue RIB (rigid inflatable boat) to the Pier during emergency call-outs. Timing is everything when the unit is responding to emergency incidents and this facility, once completed, will greatly improve the unit’s ability to respond to such incidents.”
Senator Mulcahy said Minister Varadkar will be officially announcing his decision in the coming days.
Doolin Volunteer Coast Guard unit is one of the busiest units in the country and operates a cliff rescue team, a boat unit and shoreline search team. The twenty four member team is supported by seven additional volunteers located on nearby Inis Oírr.
“Minister Varadkar has informed me that the project, to be overseen by the Office of Public Works (OPW) will be tendered within a matter of weeks with construction anticipated to commence by May. The new station will provide a garage area for the storage of boats, cliff rescue, personal equipment and transport, as well as changing facilities and an operations room. This development will be welcomed by members of the Doolin unit who have campaigned long and hard for the provision of such a facility,” stated Senator Mulcahy.
The Fine Gael Senator continued: “The unit has been operating from a shed at the seaside Carpark in Doolin, which has been problematic due to the site’s distance from the pier. Traffic issues on the approach road to the pier have also made it difficult for volunteer service members to transport their 9-metre-long rescue RIB (rigid inflatable boat) to the Pier during emergency call-outs. Timing is everything when the unit is responding to emergency incidents and this facility, once completed, will greatly improve the unit’s ability to respond to such incidents.”
Senator Mulcahy said Minister Varadkar will be officially announcing his decision in the coming days.
