Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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297. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans for improving water safety. [4058/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department has responsibility for Irish Water Safety, the statutory body established to promote water safety in Ireland.  Irish Water Safety’s role is to educate people in water safety best practices and develop public awareness campaigns to promote necessary attitudes, rescue skills and behaviour to prevent drownings and water related accidents.  Their activities include teaching swimming and lifesaving techniques and through their classes people can qualify as pool and beach lifeguards.  They also hold lectures and demonstrations to members of the public and other interested parties and publish literature to promote water safety and target at-risk groups.  The activities of the organisation are underpinned by the dedication and commitment of its many member volunteers across the country, which grew to 4,738 by end 2016.

Irish Water Safety’s annual income is comprised of a grant from my Department, a contribution from local authorities and income from commercial activities and sponsorship. My Department’s grant – towards the organisation’s core costs - amounts to €507,000 in 2017.

Since 2014, my Department has allocated a grant of €150,000 in additional funding to Irish Water Safety for drowning prevention measures. Deaths by drowning have ranged between 110 and 140 per annum in the years 2012 to 2015.  The factors that influence drownings are many and complicated but promoting awareness has a measurable effect.  In recognition of the tremendous work by Irish Water Safety in the promotion of water safety, I have increased this additional funding to €500,000 in 2017.

I will continue to work with Irish Water Safety to ensure that the resources available are used to their fullest potential and to support them in developing responses to water safety challenges.