Minister Seán Canney Turns Sod on New Greystones/Wicklow Coast Guard Station

Today, Minister Seán Canney, with special responsibility for the Irish Coast Guard officially turned the sod for the new Coast Guard Station in Greystones, Co. Wicklow. The €7.03 million project is being delivered in partnership with the Office of Public Works, whose Minister of State Kevin Boxer Moran also joined the ceremony.

The Greystones/Wicklow Coast Guard Unit (CGU), which has a proud history dating 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.

Speaking at today’s 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.