Need for bathing areas

Specific swimming and blue flag areas need to be identified in Cavan so that lifeguards can be engaged during heat waves or fine spells of weather.

A motion brought before Cavan County Council sought measures to ensure water safety during the hot spells that see Cavan people out flock to the water. Cllr Aiden Fitzpatrick (FF) said he first raised the issues in May of last year.

He recalled how Cavan and the hinterland experienced a series of tragic drownings at that time. The Fianna Fáil elected representative argued: “Cavan has 365 lakes and this makes it impossible to police every one of them, however each MD should have one lake covered by a lifeguard during periods of hot weather.”

He suggested the local authority take a reactive approach to the issue: “It should be like our approach to salting of roads, only instead of when the temperature goes down, we take action when the temperature goes up.”

Cllr Fitzpatrick also told his fellow councillors that the local authority needs to assess the lifebuoys around the county.

The council executive committed to replying to Cllr Fitzpatrick's motion at the next meeting of the local authority.