Arklow Coast Guard extension still awaiting approval as OPW plans sit with department

By Hugh O'Farrell Walsh, The Wicklow People

The long anticipated extension of Arklow Coast Guard station remains stalled, with the Department of Transport yet to sign off on plans submitted by the Office of Public Works (OPW).

Despite the project being highlighted in the Irish Coast Guard’s national building strategy, launched in late 2025, no timeline or budget has been confirmed for delivery of the upgrade.

In a written parliamentary reply, junior minister Seán Canney said the OPW has already prepared “preliminary plans and associated cost estimates” for the extension and forwarded them to the Department.

However, officials are still reviewing the proposals to ensure they align with the priorities set out in the Building Strategy, which aims to modernise Coast Guard infrastructure nationwide.

The minister said this review “is due to be completed shortly”, after which the Department will engage again with the OPW to agree the scope of the works and determine what can be delivered “within an appropriate budget and timeframe”.

No indication was given of when construction might begin or when a final decision will be made.

The OPW previously indicated that design work was progressing and that tendering would follow, but the project has not advanced to procurement. Other Coast Guard developments, including the major rebuild at Greystones, have moved ahead more quickly under the same national strategy.

Arklow’s station, one of the busiest in the region, has long been considered undersized and in need of modernisation to meet operational demands.

The proposed extension is expected to provide additional storage, improved training space and upgraded facilities for the volunteer unit. However, without departmental approval, the project cannot proceed to tender or construction.

While the Department insists the review will conclude soon, no firm commitments were offered, and the project’s timeline remains uncertain.

Deputy Malcolm Byrne, who raised the question, has repeatedly pressed for progress on the extension, arguing that the Coast Guard’s local operations require modern facilities and that Arklow should not fall behind other stations in the national upgrade programme.

The latest response suggests that while the project is still on the Department’s agenda, it has not yet reached the point where funding or delivery can be guaranteed.

The Department says it will update the Deputy “in due course”, but for now, Arklow’s Coast Guard volunteers must continue to wait for a definitive decision on when their long promised station extension will finally move forward.