Sligo County Council is to hold an emergency meeting next week following the Strandhill drownings, amid growing concern over the role of local authorities in water safety.
The issue is also expected to be raised at a meeting of the Irish Marine Search and Rescue Committee (IMSRC) in Kinsale, Co Cork, next Monday, when a liaison agreement between lifeguards and the marine rescue authorities is to be discussed.
The agreement, which has been under negotiation for some time through the National Safety Council (NSC), aims to improve communication between lifeguards and the Irish Marine Emergency Service (IMES), according to its director, Capt Liam Kirwan.
Under the new system, lifeguards would be able to communicate with IMES on VHF radio, and alert inshore and community lifeboats about emergencies, such as strandings, swimmers in difficulty, and flare sightings at sea.
Currently, lifeguards with NSC qualifications are employed from June only, and have a responsibility that is not reflected in their pay scale. However, at an average of £200 for a six-day week, and £38 a day for weekends and bank holidays, it is regarded as handy money for students.
Six community inshore rescue boats and IMES inshore rescue vessels operated by coast and cliff rescue units often operate as backup to lifeguards on busy weekends in summer, when resources allow. The community rescue boats are at Drogheda, Co Louth, Tramore and Bunmahon, Co Waterford, Banna and Ballybunion, Co Kerry, and Kilkee, Co Clare.
The IMES inshore vessel network includes Greencastle, Mulroy Bay and Killybegs in Co Donegal; Killala and Achill in Co Mayo; Doolin in Co Clare; Ballybunion and Valentia in Co Kerry; Castletownbere, Kinsale and Toe Head in Co Cork.
Lifeguards are not empowered to direct swimmers to leave the water when at risk, and the NSC has also adopted the policy of not recommending lifeguard use when beaches are deemed unsafe. There is no national list of dangerous bathing areas, as this responsibility lies with local authorities. The NSC surveys beaches for safety, but only at the request of local authorities, according to its chief executive, Mr Pat Costello.
Education campaigns are continually undertaken by the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources, IMES and the NSC. The Department of the Marine has published nine water safety brochures, and has a reduced-cost helpline: 1-850392392.
The NSC publishes special education packs for schools. Ironically, the NSC publicised a new poster campaign on 14 steps to safe swimming in Galway last Saturday, the day before the Strandhill drownings.
