Valentia Coast Guard Station is reported to have been offline for up to 12 hours on Sunday night last due to staffing issues. The Department of Transport says the responsibilities at the time were shared between Malin Head and Dublin centres and that this arrangement had been pre-planned due to staff availability issues.

The matter has been raised by Fianna Fail West Cork TD., Christopher O’Sullivan, who said that all Coast Guard stations should be fully staffed and he was seeking to have the matter looked into.

There are understood to be vacancies for Watch Officers at all three Coast Guard stations. Six are said to have been recruited and more will be advertised.

THE ECHO Cork has more on the story today here, reporting that there are understood to be vacancies for Watch Officers at all three Coast Guard stations. Six are said to have been recruited and more will be advertised.

It also reports that staff members at Valentia have been covering extra shifts because of the shortage of personnel.

THE ECHO Cork leads on the Valentia Coastguard staffing story