At least the Deputy acknowledged that I am only deputising for another Minister of State. He sends his apologies as he cannot be here. It is obvious, given the level of interaction and number of representations the Deputy has made on this project over the past five years, why he is frustrated. I will give him the response I have been given. He will appreciate that I am not au fait with the issue. I will give the answer and he can come back to me afterwards if he has supplementary questions or questions he would like me to bring back to the relevant Minister of State. The Irish Coast Guard, a division of the Department of Transport, has 44 units, based in 58 Coast Guard stations. The Coast Guard building programme, which includes the provision of new or upgraded facilities at a number of locations across the country, is managed by the OPW on behalf of the Department of Transport. These projects are funded by the Department. Programme priorities are decided by the Coast Guard and the programmes are overseen by a programme oversight group consisting of representatives from the Department, the Coast Guard service and the OPW. The OPW provides advice and assistance on the design of such projects, site feasibility studies, acquisition of sites, planning and detailed design, and contractor procurement and manages the delivery in line with the requirements of the Department of Transport and Coast Guard Service. The Deputy will be well aware, given his advocacy and interest in this matter, that a preferred site for the Coast Guard facility in Courtown was selected following consultation between the OPW and the Department in March 2024. Following negotiations with the landowner, draft heads of terms and the purchase price have been agreed in respect of the preferred site. Given that the Department funds the Coast Guard programme, the OPW has sought authorisation to proceed with the purchase of the site, and this is awaited. Once this is received, the OPW can complete the remaining due diligence and the acquisition of the preferred site. As this is commercially sensitive, the OPW is not in a position to provide further information on the preferred site at this time. Once a suitable site is required, the OPW will assign a project team to commence the planning and detailed design stages of the project. The tender process will then follow and the OPW will manage the delivery of the new Coast Guard facility in Courtown while continuing to work closely with colleagues in the Department of Transport to deliver on the overall Coast Guard programme. Unfortunately, at this time it is not possible to provide a commencement date for the start of the construction of the new Coast Guard facility in Courtown. The OPW has been informed that, as an interim measure, the Department has secured accommodation for the Coast Guard unit in the local parochial house, which I believe is what the Deputy referred to in his contribution. The Department has confirmed that this arrangement will remain in place until the new facility is completed. I am not quite sure whether the information on the agreement of the heads of terms is in addition to what the Deputy heard when he raised this in the Seanad. I will not take credit for relaying the message today but there does seem to have been some movement. That, no doubt, is largely due to his relentless pursuit of this issue.
Sentiment score: 0.05
I reiterate that draft heads of terms, including on the purchase price, have been agreed in respect of the new site. Therefore, there has been progress. The matter is now with the Department of Transport. I have no doubt that the Deputy will exert pressure on the Minister for Transport, Deputy Darragh O’Brien, to the same extent that he has exerted it on the OPW. It now needs to sanction the necessary funding and give authorisation to proceed with the purchase of the site. That is currently awaited. My advice to the Deputy is that he should channel his efforts in this regard to move things on. At a time when we have all read about, and been aghast by, some of the projects that the OPW has sanctioned, and the funding it has spent on some projects, it is important that it carries out due diligence to ensure value for money on what is a very important project for Courtown and the wider area. No one will thank the organisation if something is deemed considerably excessive.
Sentiment score: 0.11
That is the problem we have faced with many projects that have been delayed and stalled. The price is only going one way, not down. The OPW needs to carry out due diligence. It is important that it do so for us to get value for money regarding what I acknowledge is very important infrastructure for Courtown. I will relay to the relevant Minister of State, Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran, the sentiments the Deputy has expressed today, and no doubt the Deputy will raise the issue directly with Minister for Transport to ensure the authorisation is forthcoming.
Sentiment score: -0.06