Godfrey Timmins
Question:26 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for the Marine if the inquiry into the canoeing tragedy in Dunmore East, County Waterford, has been completed; and if so, when the findings will be published. [10120/95]
Written Answers. - Dunmore East (Waterford) Accident Inquiry.
Following the tragic accident in Dunmore East last February, in which two canoeists lost their lives, my predecessor informed the House that he had ordered a review of the circumstances of the accident. This review has now been completed.
As was indicated to the House at the time, the review did not have a statutory basis nor was it intended to publish a report of its findings. The sole objective of the review was to establish what lessons could be learned from the accident with a view of minimising the possibility of a recurrence of such a tragedy.
The Dunmore East accident review has resulted in the following safety recommendations in relation to canoeing activity on or near the sea and on large open lakes: all equipment, including canoes, helmets, buoyancy aids, paddles, cagoules and both wet and dry suits should be made more visible by attaching retro reflective tape — this would assist the rescue services in locating a person or canoe in the water, especially in heavy seas and poor visibility; all persons should have a whistle capable of being used in the water, which should be attached to the wrist; each canoeist should be issued with a hand flare and the leader of a group of canoeists should have at least one parachute flare; the leader of a group should carry a handheld marine VHF radio and be capable of operating it, the area of operation for canoe training should be clearly defined and the persons in charge of training should be made fully aware of such areas; a checklist of all the necessary requirements, including weather forecasts and updates as appropriate, should be complied with prior to departure; the leader of a group should inform the relevant local authorities, e.g. harbour office, pilot station, coast radio station, giving them the time of departure, area of operation, expected time of arrival, number in group and type and numbers of equipment in use; lifejackets should be worn for sea or open water canoeing.
While these recommendations relate specifically to canoeing activity, the underlying principles are applicable to a number of waterbased leisure activities. The Department of the Marine has now drawn up a comprehensive set of safety guidelines, incorporating the recommendations of the Dunmore East review, for both canoeing and windsurfing. The Department is currently engaged in a process of consultation with the representative bodies with a view to having these safety recommendations implemented. This has involved meetings with the sea scouts, the Irish Windsurfing Association and the Irish Canoe Union. It is proposed, following liaison with the Irish Windsurfing Association and the Irish Canoe Union, to issue safety leaflets in respect of windsurfing and sea canoeing in the coming weeks. The Department also proposes to meet shortly with representatives of the Association for Adventure Sports with a view to enlisting their support towards putting these recommended measures in place.
This course of action accords fully with my view, which I know was shared by my predecessor, that the most effective approach to water leisure safety is through self regulation by the various governing bodies. Such self regulation must continue to be augmented by means of the Department's safety awareness campaign's dual strategy of alerting the watersports enthusiast to the need for safety consciousness and providing information regarding the appropriate safety measures to be taken.