DOOLIN’S Coast Guard Unit was visited by Minister of State for Transport, Hildegarde Naughton (FG).
Reconstituted following a report by independent mediator Kieran Mulvey, the Unit was stood down last November after six volunteers resigned. Recent appointments of an Officer in Charge and Deputy Officer in Charge have been made in Doolin.
Junior Minister Naughton who has special responsibility for the Irish Coast Guard met with current volunteers in the past week. Doolin Coast Guard Unit consists of 7 volunteers and 8 more in Inis Óirr. The Unit carries out search, boat and drone roles. In 2021, a total of 41 incident taskings were responded to, and a further 49 so far in 2022. This year is the 200th anniversary of the Irish Coast Guard.
Speaking from Doolin, the Galway West TD acknowledged “the commitment of staff and volunteers here in Clare, and nationwide, for providing this crucial service and particularly for maintaining service delivery throughout the Covid pandemic. I continue to hear stories of volunteers leaving their families at home in the dead of night, and even on Christmas Day, to assist those in difficulty; a fact that demonstrates the personal sacrifice that is made by our volunteers 365 days of the year. Without our volunteers we simply would not have this lifesaving service. I would also like to thank their families and the wider community without whose support this service could not be provided”.
