asked the Minister for Health if he will be prepared to make grants available for the provision of first aid or medical huts at popular seaside resorts.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Seaside First Aid.
30.
First aid huts have been provided by sanitary authorities and voluntary bodies at certain beaches. The first-aid service is generally provided by voluntary organisations. These include the Irish Red Cross Society which of course receives State grants.
Under existing Local Government legislation, sanitary authorities have power to provide and maintain equipment, apparatus or appliances for saving persons from drowning at bathing places maintained by them.
I understand that in the main these services are provided by funds from the local authorities, whereas when I had the privilege of having a holiday in Spain I discovered that the State provide these services there. Would the Minister not consider giving extra State assistance to the local authorities for such services? Such assistance could prove advantageous.
A lot of these are provided by voluntary bodies. There may be something in what the Deputy says, but we have a vast coastline. It would take an enormous amount of money if every 200 yards of beach were to be provided with these services.
Will the Minister examine the matter to see if these services can be improved?
The sanitary authorities have power to provide and maintain equipment. It is not quite clear what the Deputy has in mind. The Irish Red Cross provide life-saving services. I am sure they have first-aid equipment. I do not know whether it would be possible to put such burden on the sanitary authorities.