DONEGAL and Kerry
County Councils are joining forces in a bid to
reverse a decision to axe the Malin Head and
Valentia marine rescue centres and centralise their
activities at Shannon.
Kerry County Council yesterday unanimously voted to
oppose the closure of Valentia Island's coastal
radio station, in support of a campaign by
islanders. |
 |
The move mirrored a
similar motion passed by Donegal County Council
before Christmas.
It is now expected that Kerry County Manager, Tom
Curran and his Donegal counterpart Michael McLoone
will lead a power delegation to lobby Minister Noel
Dempsey on the issue.
It was also revealed yesterday that Coast Guard HQ
in Dublin |
have proposed a site at
Ballycasey in the Shannon area, as the centralised
centre for marine rescue operations in the west.
A Malin Head Coast Guard source yesterday said staff
and their families remained "hopeful" all was not
lost.
"Last week, a delegation from the Inishowen
Development Partnership presented Minister Dempsey
with a document outlining exactly why the rescue
centre should stay in Malin Head. It was a very good
and persuasive report and the Minister admitted he
was now better informed about Malin Head's
suitability than he was.
"Add to that the fact that Donegal and Kerry County
Councils are now joining together to fight for the
local stations and we would like to think that
Minister Dempsey will see sense on the matter.
Claims that technology is outdated in Malin Head and
Valentia have also been contradicted," said the
source. |
