€80K cost to provide lifeguards

It would cost Cavan County Council €80,000 to provide lifeguard cover at popular swimming locations.

Councillor Aiden Fitzpatrick (FF) has regularly called for lifeguards to be stationed to improve safety in the areas.

Five people drowned in Irish waters over two weeks during July, with three people from Cavan and Monaghan losing their lives. Killian Casey died after he got into difficulty in Lough Sheelin, while Natasha Core died at Swan Lake in Lough Gowna.

Cllr Fitzpatrick had raised the need for lifeguards at the September meeting of Cavan County Council, however time constraints due to Covid restrictions meant a response from the Council was deferred.

Director of Services Paddy Connaughton told the meeting that Water Safety Ireland is the statutory body with responsibility for safety at bathing areas.

He said, after consultation with the body and other councils, a figure of €80,000 was the likely cost for the local authority to provide lifeguard cover at designated bathing areas in the county.

This included lifeguards working for 10 weeks, from 11am to 7pm daily.

Mr Connaughton said Water Safety Ireland had determined a greater “focus on the educational aspect” of water safety was needed.

However, Cllr Fitzpatrick said he had been contacted by a number of parents who said they cannot get their child enrolled in swimming lessons.

He claimed parents “can’t get swimming lessons anywhere in the county and this needs to be looked at”.

Cllr Sarah O’Reilly (Aon) blamed Covid restrictions on the numbers that can partake in lessons for the waiting lists.

A number of councillors spoke in favour of the motion including Cllr Trevor Smith (FG) and Cllr Carmel Brady (FG) who raised concerns over the lack of life rings at some bathing locations.