Still no movement in Achill Coast Guard station stalemate

Still no movement in Achill Coast Guard station stalemate


Anton McNulty

Conflicting comments from the Minister for Transport and a Mayo County Council official means that hopes of a resolution in the Achill Coast Guard station saga have not got any closer.
Hopes of a settlement were raised last week after the Minister for Transport indicted in the DΡil that a Caretaker’s agreement would allow the use of the building pending the resolution of the legal difficulties.
Minister Noel Dempsey was responding to questions raised in the DΡil by Mayo TD, Michael Ring who asked the Minister why access to the new Coast Guard Station has not been resolved.
The state-of-the-art Coast Guard station remains empty nearly two years after its completion because of a legal dispute between the Chief State Solicitor’s office and Mayo County Council, who built the building. In the meantime, they have been forced to operate out of a rented shed.
Responding to Deputy Ring’s questions, Minister Demspey said he has been assured that the outstanding issues will be dealt with in the ‘appropriate manner, as quickly as possible’.
“Legal and contractual matters are in the course of being resolved in order to allow the group in question to move into the facility referred to. A Caretaker’s Agreement which would allow use  of the building pending the resolution of the legal difficulties was forwarded by the Chief State Solicitor’s Office to Mayo County Council. I have asked, and been assured that, the outstanding issues will be dealt with in the appropriate manner, as quickly as possible,” he said.
However, the Director of Services with Mayo County Council, Peter Hynes told The Mayo News on Monday that the Council were still awaiting correspondents from the Chief State Solicitor’s Office, and no further progress has been made on the issue.
Deputy Ring also contacted the Chief State Solicitor’s office and looked for the matter to be resolved.
“Hopefully this issue can be settled once and for all so that the Achill Coast Guard can be accommodated at the new facility.  They carry out excellent work.  I am pleased that this matter will be resolved,” concluded Deputy Ring.
Mr Patrick Williamson, the English man who was rescued by the Achill Coast Guard last August and is campaigning for the station to be opened said he will continue to lobby officials and politicians until the matter is resolved. He raised the matter on the Bob Brolly radio show which has 2.4million listeners in the West Midland and he told The Mayo News that the Irish Embassy’s office in London had contacted him to keep them informed on how it is progressing.
A spokesperson for the Achill Coast Guard told The Mayo News that the conflicting reports were frustrating for the unit and they felt they are being left in the dark. However, they said they were thankful for all the support they were receiving.