Figures bolster case to keep Valentia open

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 Kerry station responded to 713 incidents compared with 874 by Dublin and 374 by Malin Head, Co Donegal, according to the latest statistics.Valentia also dealt with 100 medical evacuations, compared with 71 by Malin Head and 19 by Dublin.

However, the Department of Transport seems determined to press ahead with the setting up of two new marine rescue co-ordination centres, one in Drogheda and the other along the west coast, possibly Galway.

At the same time, Transport Minister Noel Dempsey has said the Valentia station will not close and no jobs will be lost there.

However, the Valentia-based Save Our Station (SOS) lobby group claimed the building would remain open to house radio equipment, but jobs there would be moved to other stations over a period of time.

The lobby group said the loss of 17 jobs in the Valentia station would be a massive blow to the area.

The SOS campaign has become a key local issue for Ceann Comhairle John O’Donoghue, who lives in nearby Caherciveen.

Mr O’Donoghue has twice written to Mr Dempsey expressing his total opposition to any moves to close down the Valentia station. He said such a proposal ran completely counter to the Government’s decentralisation programme.

County councils in Kerry and Donegal are working together to save the stations at Valentia and Malin.

Kerry county manager Tom Curran said the closure of the Valentia station would be seen as a vote of no confidence in the area and would go completely against what Kerry County Council was trying to do for regional development.

“It is ironic that while this council and other agencies are trying to create jobs, we’re getting the rug pulled from under our feet,” he said.

Yesterday Kerry senator Mark Daly (FF) said he and Donegal Oireachtas members campaigning for the retention of Malin Head were seeking that the heads of the Irish coastguard along with the authors of a report recommending closure of the stations be brought before the Oireachtas Transport Committee to answer questions on claims in the report. This should take place “before any decision is reached,” said Mr Daly.

The 100-year-old station dramatically perched on a cliff at the edge of the Atlantic on Valentia Island had been earmarked for upgrading under Marine Minister Dermot Ahern. However under a review currently underway it looks set for downgrading or closure altogether under Mr Dempsey who appears to favour a new west coast or inland centre.

Recently the Spanish Ambassador to Ireland, Dr José de Carvajal, observed a sitting of the Seanad where the future of the Marine Rescue Centres in Valentia and Malin was debated. He attended at the invitation of Mr Daly.