New €7m Wicklow Coast Guard station on track for completion in early 2027

By Hugh O'Farrell Walsh, The Wicklow People

Construction of the new €7 million Coast Guard station in Greystones is now firmly on track for completion in early 2027, according to the Department of Transport, a timeline that marks the final phase of a long-awaited upgrade for one of Ireland’s busiest volunteer search and rescue units.

The project, delivered in partnership with the Office of Public Works, began in late 2025 when junior minister Seán Canney officially turned the sod at the harbour.

At that point, the OPW confirmed a full suite of modern operational and welfare facilities would be built, including an operations room, training room, drying room, boathouse, changing areas and boat launch infrastructure.

The Department has now reiterated that works are progressing and that the station is expected to be finished in the opening months of 2027.

The Greystones/Wicklow Coast Guard Unit, founded in the 1920s, covers a demanding stretch of coastline from Bray to Brittas and regularly responds to cliff incidents, water rescues and shoreline searches.

Staffed entirely by 32 volunteers, the unit had already dealt with more than 50 incidents by the time construction began.

Its operations frequently involve coordination with Dun Laoghaire Coast Guard, the R116 helicopter, Greystones Fire Service, gardaí and the RNLI, making it one of the most active multi‑agency hubs on the east coast.

Members of the Greystones/Wicklow Coast Guard Unit.

The new station is intended to replace outdated and cramped facilities that have long been considered inadequate for modern search and rescue operations.

The Department’s Irish Coast Guard Building Strategy, launched in 2025, identified Greystones as a priority site requiring a full rebuild rather than refurbishment. The strategy emphasises volunteer welfare, operational readiness and the need for consistent national standards across Coast Guard infrastructure.

At the sod turning ceremony, minister Canney described the volunteers as “the backbone of maritime search and rescue in Ireland,” saying the new station would ensure they have the facilities required “for generations to come.”

Junior minister Kevin Boxer Moran said the upgraded building would provide “modern accommodation and significantly improved storage facilities,” allowing the unit to continue delivering an “invaluable service” along the southeast coast.

The Department’s latest update, confirming completion in early 2027, provides the clearest timeline yet for when the new station will be operational.

Once finished, it will significantly expand the unit’s capacity, improve response times and strengthen coordination with other emergency services. It also represents one of the most substantial pieces of emergency service infrastructure investment in County Wicklow in recent years.