With 40 children drowned in Ireland over a 10 year period, Irish Water Safety’s appeal during National Water Safety Awareness Week (May 27 to June 3 ), is that parents and schoolteachers give children vital water safety information before the summer holidays commence and help prevent further tragic drownings this summer. Online advice is available at www.aquaattack.ie In advance of the summer season Mayo County Council has also issued a plea not to tamper with lifesaving equipment as it could have fatal consequences.
Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council, Councillor Cyril Burke has appealed to those people involved in the removal and damage to ringbuoys and water safety signage throughout County Mayo to think twice before doing so. Michael Gavin, Mayo water safety development officer, agrees. “Mayo County Council invests heavily in ringbuoys and other lifesaving equipment each year for the safety of the general public. With 320 ringbuoys positioned at beaches, lakes, and riverside walkways throughout the county, last year alone Mayo County Council staff had to replace 48 of them. Obviously there will always be a certain loss, particularly at coastal locations due to storm damage, erosion, etc, but I estimate that 50 per cent of the losses are caused by vandalism or night time revelry. For example, in the last eight weeks alone six ringbuoys along the Clare River walkway in Ballyhaunis were removed on two separate occasions over weekends. Not only is this a waste of public money and resources but more importantly, lives are continuously being put at risk.”
Report missing or damaged ringbuoys on www.Ringbuoys.ie
