Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On the town and village renewal scheme, on this occasion I am examining the scheme in the context of social distancing in public realms. In light of the rules around social distancing we need to introduce new rules and regulations. I have asked the local authorities to make provision for this when submitting their plans.

The Deputy raised the issue of the stability package. He is correct that some groups submitted a number of applications under different headings. Pobal is currently streamlining these applications. To ensure the system is fair and all applications are adjudicated fairly the guidelines must be applied to each application. Pobal will make its recommendations and I will make the decisions. I do not want this funding targeted at groups that have savings and other funding. I want it targeted at those groups that are in real need of funding, particularly front-line services such as, for example, meals on wheels which continued to operate throughout this crisis, took on additional clientele and worked very hard within already limited resources and has now had its funding curtailed. I am examining this area.

The Deputy spoke about safety outside schools and water safety, which issues I will respond to together. There is a scheme in place under the CLÁR programme to which schools can apply for funding to make school facilities safe. This is a scheme that I reintroduced and it is working well. The Deputy and I are well aware of the number of accidents that have happened outside of schools down through the years. I have provided funding for warning signs and the construction of safe car parks to ensure the safety of children entering and leaving school. This programme has worked very well. There have been more applications than funding but I propose to continue the programme this year because it is a very important programme.

Water safety also comes under the remit of my Department. The number of people who die each year from water accidents is almost as high as the number of people who die each year from road accidents. Irish Water Safety is now known as Water Safety Ireland. The title of the organisation had to be changed because it was inundated with calls from people who thought they were contacting Irish Water. The name change was made by statute. The organisation does a very good job. It has run a number of safety campaigns, including in the run up to the June bank holiday weekend. The local authorities have responsibility for lifeguard provision on our beaches. These lifeguards operate part-time from June to September. People must be careful and obey the warning signs in regard to water safety. Deputy Conway-Walsh referred earlier to the recent serious tragedy in County Mayo. I again offer my condolences to the family. Water Safety Ireland is doing a good job and I have allocated extra funding to it for various strategies. It is calling on people to be careful, to heed the signage and to do what they are told. It is certainly performing the role with which I tasked it. I know that it will be running a further warning campaign over the next number of weeks because when the weather is good people want to go to the beaches and use other facilities.

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