Wicklow Sinn Féin TD John Brady has expressed disappointment at what he described as the ongoing failure of the government to progress work on the construction of a new coastguard station at Greystones in Wicklow, even though over a year ago Taoiseach Simon Harris announced that the Tender process had begun, and that construction would begin within the year. Despite this, the Department of Transport has confirmed that the process was halted for what they described as technical reasons. Brady’s comments came following a response to questions to Minister Eamon Ryan. Brady described the years of delays that have impacted on the Coastguard Station build as a continuing failure of a major emergency service.
Brady said:
“The added delays in advancing the project to deliver a new Coastguard Station for Greystones is a complete failure of a major emergency service. The facilities that the Coast Guard are currently operating from are not acceptable.
This is an issue that is going back as far as 2018. We are long past the time for the situation to be resolved. Planning permission was originally granted in 2020 for the new Station, however it will expire in June 2025, without any work having taken place. It is expected that the Office of Public Works (OPW) will make an application to Wicklow County Council to try extending the planning permission. Although this is conditional on substantial works being completed by the June 2025 deadline.
Because of the litany of delays around the development, the OPW have confirmed that since 2021, the estimated construction cost of the Coastguard Station has increased by 40% due to inflation. It is expected that the OPW will have to go to tender again for the development of the new Coast Guard station.
The fact that the Coastguard is currently operating on Marine Terrace on a site adjacent to the local Garda Station is having an impact on operations out of the station. It has led to plans to extend the Greystones Garda station being scaled way back. The extension to the Garda Station which would have been built on the site currently occupied by the Coastguard have been shelved, with Gardaí now having to settle for a refurbishment of the existing building.”
Brady concluded:
“This is not acceptable, it is unnecessary, and it needs to be addressed. Minister Eamon Ryan and his government colleagues, including Taoiseach Simon Harris, who lives in Greystones, need to act here, to ensure that the Coastguard Station is completed as soon as possible. Their continuing failure to address the situation is impacting on the operations of the Coastguard, and the Gardaí in Greystones.” ENDs
