Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 25 Oct 1995

Vol. 457 No. 5

Written Answers. - Canoe Safety.

Brendan Kenneally

Ceist:

109 Mr. Kenneally asked the Minister for the Marine whether, in relation to the operation of canoes, he considers it necessary that canoeists and instructors should be able to swim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15745/95]

Brendan Kenneally

Ceist:

110 Mr. Kenneally asked the Minister for the Marine if, in relation to the operation of canoes, he considers it necessary that canoeists should not set out with darkness approaching; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15746/95]

Brendan Kenneally

Ceist:

111 Mr. Kenneally asked the Minister for the Marine whether, in relation to the operation of canoes, he considers it necessary that a manned motorised rescue boat should be on the water with groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15747/95]

Brendan Kenneally

Ceist:

112 Mr. Kenneally asked the Minister for the Marine whether, in relation to the operation of canoes, he considers it necessary that canoeists should not take other people's children out canoeing unless their parents have given permission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15748/95]

Brendan Kenneally

Ceist:

115 Mr. Kenneally asked the Minister for the Marine if the recommendation in the review carried out by the Marine Nautical Surveyor's office into the canoe tragedy in Dunmore East, County Waterford, in February 1995, that the leader of a group or groups should carry a hand held Marine VHF radio and be capable of operating it, has been implemented; if not, when he expects to have it implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15751/95]

Brendan Kenneally

Ceist:

116 Mr. Kenneally asked the Minister for the Marine if the recommendations in the review carried out by the Marine Nautical Surveyor's office into the canoe tragedy in Dunmore East, County Waterford, in February 1995, that each canoeist should be issued with a hand flare and the leader of a group of canoeists should have at least one parachute flare, has been implemented; if not, when he expects to have it implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15752/95]

Brendan Kenneally

Ceist:

117 Mr. Kenneally asked the Minister for the Marine if the recommendation in the review carried out by the Marine Nautical Surveyor's office into the canoe tragedy in Dunmore East, County Waterford, in February 1995, that all persons should have a whistle attached to the wrist capable of being used in the water, has been implemented; if not, when he expects to have it implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15753/95]

Brendan Kenneally

Ceist:

118 Mr. Kenneally asked the Minister for the Marine if the recommendation in the review carried out by the Marine Nautical Surveyor's office into the canoe tragedy in Dunmore East, County Waterford, in February 1995, that all equipment including canoes, helmets, buoyancy aids, paddles, cagoules and both wet and dry suits should be made more visible by attaching retroreflective tape, has been implemented; if not, when he expects to have it implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15754/95]

Brendan Kenneally

Ceist:

119 Mr. Kenneally asked the Minister for the Marine if the recommendation in the review carried out by the Marine Nautical Surveyor's office into the canoe tragedy in Dunmore East, County Waterford, in February 1995, that 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 has been implemented; if not, when he expects to have it implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15755/95]

Brendan Kenneally

Ceist:

120 Mr. Kenneally asked the Minister for the Marine if the recommendation in the review carried out by the Marine Nautical Surveyor's office into the canoe tragedy in Dunmore East, County Waterford, in February 1995, that a checklist of all necessary requirements, including weather forecasts and updates as appropriate should be complied with prior to departure, has been implemented; if not, when he expects to have it implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15758/95]

Brendan Kenneally

Ceist:

121 Mr. Kenneally asked the Minister for the Marine if the recommendation in the review carried out by the Marine Nautical Surveyor's office into the canoe tragedy in Dunmore East, County Waterford, in February 1995, that the leader of a group should inform the relevant local authorities, harbour office, pilot station and coast radio station, giving them the time of departure, area of operation, time of arrival, number in the group and type of equipment in use, has been implemented; if not, when he expects to have it implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15759/95]

Brendan Kenneally

Ceist:

122 Mr. Kenneally asked the Minister for the Marine if the recommendation in the review carried out by the Marine Nautical Surveyor's office into the canoe tragedy in Dunmore East, County Waterford, in February 1995, that life jackets should be worn for sea or open water canoeing, has been implemented; if not, when he expects to have it implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15761/95]

Minister for the Marine (Mr. Barrett)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 109, 110, 111, 112 and Nos. 115 to 122 inclusive, together.

Following the tragic canoeing accident at Dunmore East last February, in which two lives were lost, the then Minister for the Marine, Deputy Hugh Coveney, ordered a review of the circumstances of the accident. The sole objective of the review was to establish what lessons could be learned from the accident with a view to minimising the possibility of a recurrence of such a tragedy.

The Dunmore East accident review 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 retroreflective tape, which 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 hand held 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.

The Department of the Marine has taken steps to implement these recommendations. Consultations have taken place with the Irish Canoe Union, as well as with the Sea Scouts and the Irish Windsurfing Association, and a comprehensive set of guidelines have been produced for implementation, on a voluntary basis, by these organisations. In addition to the recommendations arising from the Dunmore East accident review, the following safety measures are included in the comprehensive guidelines agreed with these bodies: learn how to swim; avoid strong tides and local hazards and make inquiries locally; keep an eye on the weather and seek shelter in good time, and well before daylight fades; keep within your own abilities and the limitation of your craft; and if you get into trouble, raise the alarm sooner rather than later, and stay with your craft.

Implementation of these safety guidelines on a voluntary basis is in keeping with current policy, which considers the most effective approach to water leisure activity to be through self-regulation by the various governing bodies. Such self-regulation will continue to be augmented by means of the Department of the Marine's safety awareness campaign, which employs a dual strategy of altering the watersports enthusiasts to the need for safety consciousness, and providing information regarding appropriate safety measures. While I fully endorse this policy, I have asked that the possibility of introducing statutory safety regulations, particularly in respect of adventure centres be thoroughly examined by the Department, and the question of whether it is necessary for canoeing groups to be accompanied by a manned motorised boat will be considered in that context. I have also asked that the question of written permission from children's parents being required before clubs or adventure centres allow them out canoeing be considered.

I also intend to develop an ongoing and close liaison with the marine leisure clubs and controlling bodies. Initially this will explore how best the resources of my and other Department's might be used to communicate the safety message to water users, whether operating under the aegis of clubs or adventure centres or otherwise. As a more long-term measure, I intend to develope, in consultation with the relevant bodies, an analysis of marine leisure incidents, in which the emergency services under the aegis of my Department will have been involved, as a means of providing general feedback to the marine leisure bodies and the public on the circumstances and causes of these incidents. This will make an important contribution to raising safety awareness among the public and to designing practices and procedures to reduce such incidents.

Finally, I wish to put on record that it is essential that a strong sense of personal responsibility for one's own safety is developed among marine leisure users. Ultimately, no amount of regulation, statutory or otherwise, will make a difference if water users have not developed a strong personal belief in the need to adhere to a basic safety code. This will require a sustained effort by parents, schools, clubs and others to inculcate this culture of safety from the earliest possible age.