Galway City Council has won the premier Water Safety Award for promoting water safety in Ireland for 2006.

The award, which will be presented today by Minister of State Tony Killeen, at 4pm in the Custom House, is given to a local authority every year by Irish Water Safety.

Galway regained its Blue Flag Status at Salthill after seven years and has developed and improved the five bathing areas at Ladies Beach, Salthill; Blackrock, Salthill; Silverstrand, Barna; Ballyloughane, Renmore; Grattan Road, Salthill and Palmers Rock, Salthill.

The council has also erected a large number of ringbuoys and put in place an inspection/replacement regime over all the known areas of risk within the city boundary. There has also been a large increase in the number of water safety signs erected, which is helping to raise the public’s awareness of water safety.

An initiative to promote water safety through the local radio, issuing warnings on high tides, strong currents and publicising aquatic events, has paid off for the city, while it has also publicised and promoted the swimming and lifesaving classes it supports in Leisureland and on the beachfront.

With the increasing demands from the public to ensure adequate safety cover is provided by beach lifeguards, a complete overhaul of beach lifeguard facilities, equipment and training was carried out. This included new Surf Rescue Boards and extended duty hours for lifeguards.

Forty personnel from Galway Fire Brigade have also been trained in swift water rescue and commenced rescue operations from the river Corrib and around the Claddagh area. This new service will undoubtedly save lives in particular with regard to suicide attempts.

The city council has financially supported Irish Water Safety and the RNLI, and has also allocated pool time to NUIG and many swimming and lifesaving clubs based in the city.

Galway City Council also committed to the building of a 25-metre pool at Knocknacarra, which will provide to the public a vital facility for this heavily populated area in Galway.

Fingal Borough; Limavady Borough Council and Colerain Borough Council will be awarded certificates of merit for the great efforts that they made during the year.

This competition has run since 2001 and previous winners are Waterford County Council, Craigavon County Council, Waterford City Council and Kerry County Council.

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