Pat O'Neill (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As Senator Eamonn Coghlan stated, we are in the midst of a spell of unprecedented weather. I offer my condolences to the families of the people who were tragically drowned in recent days. It is important that we should engage in a debate on this matter. However, the Leader should also ask the Minister for Education and Skills to ensure that swimming and water safety and awareness lessons will be included on the primary and post-primary curricula as a matter of urgency. The Road Safety Authority is responsible for running national road safety campaigns. However, as a result of the absence of good weather, there has not been a water safety campaign for many years. The Leader should encourage the Minister for Education and Skills and his Department to put a programme in place to educate people. There are designated swimming areas on our rivers and lakes and at our beaches. However, as Senator Eamonn Coghlan pointed out, people are taking unprecedented risks by swimming outside these areas.

It is important to get a message across to the effect that people are not always safe when they are in the water. I acknowledge the tremendous work done by Irish Water Safety in educating members of the public and keeping them up do date and informed. However, lifesaving skills should not be learned as a result of luck and nor should they depend on where one lives or the school one attends. Learning such skills should be part of every child's education. They are not called "lifesaving skills" without reason.