Valentia Coast Guard station, the Irish base of the original trans-Atlantic cable station which linked Europe and the U.S., has been saved from the axe in a government u-turn.

Ireland's oldest Coast Guard station which has operated at Malin Head in Co. Donegal for 106 years, has also been rescued. Victory for a 15-month campaign to save the two stations came in a government announcement on Tuesday night. Coast Guard chiefs had proposed reorganizing the service with new stations at Drogheda in Co. Louth and an undecided location in the west - possibly Shannon - replacing Malin, Valentia in Kerry, and the headquarters off Stephen's Green in Dublin. Transport Minister Noel Dempsey had approved the plan, despite fierce opposition in Donegal and Kerry. The change of heart was announced by Minister of State for Transport Noel Ahern. He said that the government, having considered the matter fully and taken into account the various views, had decided to retain the present configuration for the delivery of Marine Rescue Coordination. That means retaining the Dublin center - although at a new location in the city - and the two sub centers at Malin and Valentia. "The need to urgently upgrade the existing equipment has been recognized and the purchase of three Integrated Communication System (ICS) cores at a cost of approximately €2.5 million has been approved. One will be located at each center," Ahern said. Although only 34 jobs were at stake at Malin and Valentia, opponents of the plan to axe them complained the government was ignoring their vital contribution to saving thousands of lives over a century. Critics also claimed the plan to replace them with stations at other centers was motivated solely for political advantage. Tanaiste (deputy prime minister) Mary Coughlan and former junior Marine Minister Pat "The Cope" Gallagher welcomed the u-turn. Coughlan said she was pleased that the Malin station will remain following much speculation about its future. Gallagher said, "I'm delighted the government has taken this very sensible and realistic step." A veteran operator at Malin said, "Santa has come to our rescue."