Insurance threat to mountain rescues

The future of the voluntary mountain rescue service is threatened by crippling insurance premiums.

During the organisation's weekend conference and agm in Co Tipperary, outgoing chairman Pat Holland said "over 90 per cent of government grants we receive goes to pay insurance".

Rick Lorenz, a guest speaker from the US Mountain Rescue Service said, based on what he had heard, "Ireland may need a 'good Samaritan' law to protect volunteer rescuers from unfounded lawsuits".

Every state in the US had such a law, he said, which prevented the public from suing volunteers where injuries were inadvertently exacerbated during a rescue mission.

The absence of such legislative protection is forcing Irish volunteers to take out expensive insurance cover.

The Irish Mountain Rescue Association, which represents 12 teams which provide a 24-hour year-round service, also said that Government grants covered just 30 per cent of running costs, with the other 70 per cent coming from public donations.

Mr Holland said the 300 volunteers made "a substantial commitment" but were forced to spend long hours fundraising to pay for specialist vehicles and equipment, first-aid training and protective clothing.

Mary Mullins of the southeast rescue team said: "The public are very generous on flag days but are surprised to discover that the service is staffed only by volunteers."

The scale of their contribution to the State's emergency services was outlined by figures for 2005. The teams responded to 179 incidents, with the highest number of call-outs (45) in the Glen of Imaal area. Overall, 240 people were rescued unharmed, 63 were injured and there were 12 deaths.

The busiest periods are weekends in summer and autumn. The volunteers also assist gardaí in searches for missing persons.

The association warned that mobile phone use was lulling some hillwalkers into a false sense of security as people believed they would be able to alert the emergency services if they got lost.

David Williams (31), a volunteer with the Dublin-Wicklow team, said a mobile phone signal could only be traced to within a 6-km radius and that "many mountain ranges do not have any mobile phone coverage". Mr Williams has been a volunteer for nine years. He trains twice a week and has assisted in 400 call-outs.

Conference organiser Jimmy Barry, Tipperary, said that despite the decline in volunteering in Ireland, "our teams are not having problems recruiting". He described volunteers as "experienced hillwalkers and mountaineers who want to give something back to the hills and the people they meet on the hills".

Mr Barry advised prospective walkers and climbers to "take a compass, take a map, learn your hillcraft and don't rely on your mobile phone".

Liam McCabe, Kilkenny, was elected as the association's new chairman. He confirmed the appointment of Paul Whiting, an Australian living in west Cork, as its first full-time development officer.