Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for his comments. We have changed the name to Water Safety Ireland because it was getting a lot of calls from people who thought it was Irish Water.

Last year, we had a major promotion in regard to water safety which included a major public awareness campaign and work in schools and educational settings. The Department funded the operating costs of Water Safety Ireland to the tune of €1.1 million in 2019.

In 2018, 103 people drowned in Ireland, and I offer my sympathy to the families. This was the lowest number of such deaths in 80 years but it is still far too many. When we compare the number of road deaths with deaths in regard to water, the number of people who die in water in this country is unbelievable. As I said, one is one too many. I compliment Water Safety Ireland for the job it does, for its educational work and for its great advertising campaigns, especially when the weather gets warm. The first thing we hear on a bank holiday weekend is that there have been tragedies. Water Safety Ireland has done a tremendous job, in particular when we see the kind of funding it is getting compared to what is spent on road safety.

We are a coastal country and many people use the water. Last year, 103 people drowned in Ireland, which is a lot of lives and means a lot of families and other people are affected by those deaths. That number is the lowest in 80 years and I compliment Water Safety Ireland.