asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state what response he has had to his circular letter addressed to the public authorities at the beginning of the bathing season last year in which he requested them to prevent public impropriety or indecency arising from the fact that sufficient public shelters had not been provided for the sexes; further, to ask the Minister will he request the said authorities to allocate separate bathing places (1) for women and children; (2) for men and boys; (3) for mixed bathing, and thereby help to maintain public propriety and public decency and prevent the undesirable present conditions under which men and women dress and undress together in public.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Public Bathing Shelters.
Mr. Hogan (for Mr. Keyes)
The circular letter referred to in the question dealt with, inter alia, the provision of suitable life saving apparatus and the maintenance of such apparatus; the provision of bathing machines or shelters for bathers where not already in use; the making of by-laws for regulating the use by bathers of bathing strands and bathing machines and for preserving order and decency in connection with public bathing. To enable the local authorities concerned to take the necessary steps to carry out these suggestions, Sections 92 and 93 of the Public Health Acts (Amendment) Act, 1907, must be declared in force in their districts where not already declared in force. These sections have already been or are being brought into force in seven county health districts, one borough and one urban district. It rests with the sanitary authorities to make by-laws regulating bathing places in their districts, subject to confirmation by the Minister. Bathing by-laws are being brought into operation in four county health districts, one borough and two urban districts. The course suggested in the concluding portion of the question is generally followed.