The Transport Minister has been urgently called to upgrade and refurbish six Coastguard stations in Wexford, after it was revealed that only two have running water and bathrooms inside.

Fianna Fail TD James Browne made the call after the neglect was revealed during a parliamentary question.

He said: "In recent months I have met with members of the Coast Guard and one of the things that struck me was the lack of basic infrastructure in some of their stations. Fianna Fáil submitted a number of parliamentary questions on this issue and received confirmation that just two out of the six stations here in Wexford have bathrooms and running water.

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"This means that volunteers, who might have to spend hours in a station house while they are conducting a search and rescue mission, do not have access to the most basic sanitary facilities. Three do not have any internet facilities and yet coastguard members are expected to stay fully up to date on weather conditions, liaise with colleagues and the Coastguard's head office, and essentially run a very complex operation from these bases.

"Leaving Coastguard Units to languish in these conditions shows a fundamental lack of respect on the part of Government towards the Coastguard and their work. I am calling on Minister Shane Ross to expedite the upgrade and refurbishment of any coastguard unit without running water, bathroom, or internet facilities."

(CD/LM)