Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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1048. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans to deal with lifeguard shortages for coastal areas nationwide in locations in which persons swim during the summer months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10544/20]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he or she is responsible.

My Department oversees workforce planning for the local government sector and it is a requirement that approval is sought for any additional post outside of agreed workforce plan numbers. It is open to the local authorities to submit staff sanction requests and each is examined on a case by case basis.

Most local authorities have a delegated sanction to employ lifeguards on an annual/seasonal basis. Where sanction is required, I understand that all requests from local authorities have been approved.