Irish Coast Guard Unveils Ambitious Building Strategy 2025 to Modernise Facilities Nationwide

Nationwide Modernisation for Enhanced Capabilities

The Irish Coast Guard has launched its comprehensive Building Strategy 2025, a significant initiative aimed at modernising facilities across the country. Minister of State Seán Canney officially unveiled the strategy on November 10, 2025, at the OiC Conference in Clonmel, Co Tipperary. This plan outlines a nationwide overhaul of infrastructure for all 44 Coast Guard units and their more than 900 dedicated volunteers.

The core objective of the strategy is to equip every unit with safe, functional, and climate-resilient accommodation. These upgraded facilities are designed to bolster the Irish Coast Guard's capacity for search and rescue (SAR), maritime casualty response, and pollution control operations.

Strategic Development and Environmental Focus

The Building Strategy 2025 is a collaborative effort involving the Department of Transport, the Irish Coast Guard, and the Office of Public Works (OPW). It establishes a new governance model based on the Infrastructure Guidelines 2023, with the Department of Transport acting as the approving authority, the Irish Coast Guard as the sponsoring agency, and the OPW as the contracting authority responsible for planning, design, construction, and maintenance.

New and refurbished facilities will feature essential amenities such as:

• Meeting rooms and operations space
• Welfare facilities and drying rooms
• Secure equipment storage and vehicle accommodation
• Full building services, including broadband, water, and waste infrastructure

Site selection will prioritise access, rapid response capability, and proximity to coastal launch points.

A strong emphasis has been placed on environmental sustainability, aligning the strategy with the Climate Action Plan 2030. This mandates low-carbon construction, retrofitting for energy efficiency, the use of sustainable materials, and climate-adaptation features for buildings exposed to coastal weather. All new or refurbished facilities will be required to map their energy performance targets and report annual consumption data to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.

Supporting Volunteers and Community Resilience

Minister Canney highlighted the strategy's commitment to supporting volunteers and enhancing operational capabilities. 'This programme will support our volunteers, enhance operational capability and ensure that Coast Guard units have facilities that can respond to emergencies and support communities when needed,' he stated. The Irish Coast Guard recorded 1,154 taskings in 2024, demonstrating the critical role played by its volunteer units, who are trained in cliff rescue, boat operations, and aerial drone search.

Beyond their primary emergency response functions, improved Coast Guard facilities are also expected to offer wider community benefits. During severe weather events, such as Storm Éowyn in 2025, Coast Guard stations have provided crucial welfare support, including communication access, charging points, and safe shelter. The strategy notes that future facilities may formally incorporate community-use considerations where appropriate.

Ongoing Progress and Future Plans

The launch of this strategy builds upon recent progress in the Coast Guard's building programme. A new station in Bonmahon, Co. Waterford, was completed in December 2023, representing a €5.2 million investment. Construction for the Westport station in Co. Mayo commenced in March 2024, with an expected completion in October 2025. Additionally, the tendering process for the Greystones station in Co. Wicklow is imminent, with construction anticipated to begin in Q2 2025 and an estimated timeframe of 14 months.