Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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318. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to amend the regulations requiring persons to wear life jackets at all times while on board pleasure craft; his views on whether age restrictions should apply or not; his further views on whether it should be mandatory to undertake water safety courses in advance of taking to inland or sea waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4757/17]

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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325. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the regulations on the use of life jackets on pleasure craft for those persons over 16 years of age; his plans for improving knowledge of water saving for those persons using pleasure craft; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4822/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 318 and 325 together.

The requirements in relation to the wearing of Personal Flotation Devices (lifejackets/buoyancy aids) on pleasure craft are set out in the Pleasure Craft (Personal Flotation Devices and Operation) (Safety) Regulations 2005 (S.I. No. 921 of 2005), as amended by S.I. No. 349 of 2012.

I refer the Deputies to my response to Questions Nos. 696 and 697 which were answered on 31 January 2017. The position is unchanged.

Irish Water Safety, which falls under the responsibility of the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, as the statutory body established to promote water safety in Ireland, is also actively involved in educating people in water safety best practices.