Closure threat at Malin Head rescue centre 30.10.07

FEARS are growing that Malin Head marine rescue station will close with the loss of up to 18 jobs. Staff at the centre - the oldest in Europe - have been told that rescue services are to be restructured and the rescue co-ordination functions at Malin Head and Valentia, Co. Kerry will be phased out.

While the coast guard function will stay under the plan, jobs will go with the closure of north Inishowen station as a marine co-ordination centre. Staff say the plan is a "total reversal" of a July 2003 plan to upgrade the two centres, and employ around nine and seven
more staff respectively. "Staff were advised that proposals for upgrading Malin Head and Valentia were to be finalised mid 2005 and expected to be in operation by mid 2007," sources told InishowenNews.com. Staff have criticised coast guard management for "lamely" justifying two new planned urban locations - one in Drogheda and another in either Galway or Cork. "They say the new centres should be close to shops, schools and universities - but there are local schools in Malin and Carndonagh, colleges in Letterkenny and a university in Derry. "They say there is a problem with communications lines but eircom has advised that there is no problem getting high-speed lines to Malin Head." Similarly, they refute claims that it is difficult to attract staff to Malin Head. "There is a large resource of people from the fishing and marine industry based in Donegal and there were over 50 applicants for the last job advert for radio officers in the Irish Coast Guard." The Malin Head staff feel Minister Dempsey has "major questions" to answer about the reversal of his predecessor Minister Dermot Ahern's 2003 decision. "Historically Malin Head is the oldest operating radio station in Europe. Why close a station that has operated flawlessly for well over 100 years? "The closing of these stations would be a major loss of employment to Donegal and Kerry. These jobs employ people from the marine and fishing industry, an industry that has already been hit badly on the jobs front," said a staff spokesperson. They say they intend to fight for the station and will canvas the maritime community, political representatives, trade unions and civic and regional interests to have the decision overturned.
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