Alison Comyn (Fianna Fail)

It is only a matter of weeks since I asked for compulsory swimming lessons in schools in the wake of three drowning tragedies. I again stand here following the tragic loss of another young life to the waves over the weekend. Kofi Owusu, a 15-year-old Louth teenager, lost his life on a beautiful sunny Friday afternoon while swimming near the Nanny river footbridge in Laytown, County Meath. It is not specifically known if the young man jumped off the bridge into the water, something which has been common practice for decades at this beauty spot. Nevertheless, he did not go home to his family that evening. The same happened to 14-year-old Bilal Tunkara in 2022. There were also two near-drowning events in 2019 and 2020.

Local people, led by sea swimmer, Tonya Mullen, want to see meaningful steps taken to ensure tragedies of this nature never happen again. The current structure of the footbridge poses serious safety risks, especially for young people. Suggestions have been made about increasing the height of the railings, installing anti-climb features to discourage access to the edge, adding prominent safety signage and visual warnings, enhancing surveillance and lighting to deter dangerous behaviour, implementing regular patrols during peak hours on sunny days and launching a youth outreach campaign to educate young people about the dangers involved. This will require significant funding. With the summer months upon us, time is of the essence. No parent should ever have to endure such a loss. These changes could safeguard not only our children, but everyone who uses the bridge. It may be a matter for Meath County Council, to which I have already written, but I wish the Leader to invite the Minister for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and the Marine, Deputy Martin Heydon, to come the House because he may be in a position to offer funding for these vital and lifesaving safety measures in order that this type of tragedy never happens again.