Keith Swanick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Recent information from Galway City Council demonstrates that more than 150 lifesaving buoys are stolen from Galway city every year. We know it is not a problem unique to Galway and Cork City Council has a similar problem. It had to replace 300 lifebuoys last year due to theft or damage. This forces the State to replace these lifebuoys at great cost. In 2015, a 15 year old boy, Caolan Seoige-Webster, got into trouble when he went swimming with friends in Athlone, County Westmeath. The youngster's friends ran to get a lifebuoy from the station but, unfortunately, it had been stolen the night before and Caolan lost his life.

The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Deputy Ring, spoke about this vandalism in County Galway and appealed to the public to help gardaí clamp down on lifebuoy vandals by reporting any incidents they witness to the Garda. However, it is not tenable to deal with these types of crime under the Criminal Damage Act 1991 any more. The thugs who damage lifesaving equipment need to know they will be dealt with harshly. I disagree with the Minister, who has said the offences are already provided for in legislation dealing with criminal damage and theft in a general way. The penalties set out in the Life Saving Equipment Bill 2017, which I drafted, would send a clear message to these thugs that they will not get a slap on the wrist but rather a significant fine and the very real possibility of up to five years in prison. I ask the Deputy Leader to make it a priority to bring the Life Saving Equipment Bill 2017 before the House for Committee Stage. I would like an update on when that may happen.