This article is from page 21 of the 2008-12-16 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 21 JPG
DESPITE the Doolin branch of the Irish Coastguard recording it’s high- est ever call-out figures in 2008, it now seem likely that the long await- ed modern facility for the lifeboats 1s at least three years away.
The matter was raised in the Dail last week when Fine Gael TD, Pat Breen said that he “hoped and prayed” that that facilities would be put in place as soon as possible.
“All that we know at the moment is that negotiations are still ongoing with the landowner and these nego- tiations are at a very advanced stage. We also know that the funding has been put aside by the Office of Public Works for the purchase of the site in Doolin in 2009,” said Matty Shan- non of the Doolin Coastguard.
“We are hopeful that it will happen sooner rather than later. Once we get the site the next challenge will be to get financing for a building, which could be another campaign in itself.”
“While an agreement for the pur- chase of a site looks likely to be completed in 2009, no funding 1s currently allocated for the construc- tion of a rescue centre.”
Speaking in Dail Eireann last week Clare TD Pat Breen said that, “this volunteer group 1s operating out of a building that is no bigger than an average garden shed. I hope and pray
that a proper facility will be put in place in the new year. Is it right that they should be forced to battle the poor infrastructure while they go about their life-saving work?”
The Doolin branch of the Irish Coastguard responded to 43 call out to date in 2008, 50 per cent more than last year.
“It’s seems that people are more aware of the rescue organisation that are operating around the county and are more aware of people be- ing in the sea. People are becoming more vigilant of the whole situation. We did have a number of situations where people spotted a buoy in the
sea and we were called out. They were rough seas at the time but it’s better to go out and rescue a buoy than if people don’t ring in if there was an emergency.
“This does create a disturbance for the team member because they are being called more often. But as long as people are aware then that is the main thing. What is more im- portant than people being aware of other people in the water is if people were very vigilant of their own safety while in the water.