Relief For Coast Guard As Sod Turning Event Marks Some Movement Towards New Station In Greystones

Following years of delay and over €300,000 spent on designs and costs dating back five years ago there's some relief for those involved in the Greystones Coast Guard

The sod has at long last, finally and officially been turned for the new Coast Guard Station in Greystones.  

The €7m project is being delivered in partnership with the Office of Public Works.

The Greystones/Wicklow Coast Guard Unit, dates back to the 1920s, delivers land, cliff, and maritime search and rescue services across a catchment area from Bray to Brittas.

Staffed entirely by volunteers, the Unit includes 32 personnel and has responded to 52 incidents so far this year. Their work regularly involves collaboration with other emergency services, including Dun Laoghaire CGU, the Dublin-based R116 IRCG helicopter, An Garda Síochána, Greystones Fire Service, and the RNLI.

The new station will provide fit-for-purpose welfare and operational facilities, including an Operations Room, a training room, kitchenette, drying room, stores, boathouse, changing facilities, and boat launch facilities.

This investment reflects the Department’s commitment under the recently launched IRCG Building Strategy to ensure volunteer welfare and operational effectiveness.

Pictured: (Left to Right) Minister Kevin ''Boxer'' Moran, Sinn Féin TD John Brady, Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, Melanie Corrigan, Cathaoirleach of Greystones Municipal District Lourda Scott and Minister Seán Canney

Speaking at the event, Minister Seán Canney said: “Our Coast Guard volunteers are the backbone of maritime search and rescue in Ireland. The Greystones/Wicklow Unit has saved countless lives over its long history, and this new station will ensure they have the facilities they need to continue their vital work for generations to come. Today’s sod-turning is a tangible demonstration of our commitment to supporting these dedicated volunteers and the communities they serve.”

Minister Moran said: “I am delighted to be here today to see works commence on a New Coast Guard Station at Greystones for the Irish Coast Guard Services. This new station, once complete, will provide the Unit and volunteers with modern accommodation and significantly improved storage facilities.  The commitment and dedication of the volunteers is second to none and I am delighted that this new facility will allow the Unit to continue providing this invaluable service to the many communities along the southeast coast”.

The Irish Coast Guard (IRCG) is a multi-disciplinary and multi-functional division within the Department of Transport whose role it is to provide maritime search and rescue, maritime casualty, and pollution response service. The IRCG, with almost 1000 volunteer members, is one of the State’s Principal Emergency Services along with An Garda Síochána, the Fire Service and Ambulance Service.