It was with dismay that I read in the media of another possible attempt to close Valentia Coastguard station in Co Kerry — there was an attempt to close it in 2009, and Malin Head station, and to centralise the coastguard services in Co Dublin.

I AM distressed at the thought of Transport Minister Noel Dempsey contemplating the closure of Valentia coastguard station.

THE fact that Valentia coastguard station was involved in helping a large proportion of all incidents at sea last year is being used to bolster the case for the retention of the station.

The warmer-than-normal winter continued through February, Met Éireann said today, with last month’s average temperatures one degree higher than usual.