Valentia and Malin coastguard stations escape closure

VALENTIA and Malin Head coastguard stations have been saved from threatened closure, it was revealed last night.

The Government has bowed to a massive campaign from communities in Donegal and Kerry to reject plans to wind down the bases. Transport Minister Noel Dempsey said €2.5 million will be pumped into a technology upgrade at both sub-centres, as well as the Dublin headquarters.

Reacting, Kerry South TD Tom Sheahan said: “The proposal to shut the coast guard stations was economic folly. It made absolutely no sense to procure new lands to build a new station when existing stations were already functioning.”