Minister Tony Killeen meets Irish Water Safety Council at their National Office, Galway to discuss drowning prevention strategies. Pictured (LtoR) are: Jim Lawlor, John Considine, Michael Cuddihy, Anne Ryan, Roger Sweeney, Martin O'Sullivan, Joan Harte and Brendan McGrath. Front row: John Leech, Minister Tony Killeen, Frank Nolan, Breda Collins and Brian Farrell.

Last week saw the Council of Irish Water Safety meet with Deputy Tony Killeen, the Minister of State with responsibility for water safety, to discuss a strategic approach to reducing the number of drownings in Ireland.

The Minister met with representatives from the council on Thursday, 25 October.

Irish Water Safety, the statutory and voluntary body promoting water safety in Ireland has developed a strategic five year plan that hopes to build on the successes of the last five years. In 2006, the lowest number of drownings since 1965 was recorded: 131. It is the Minister's opinion that this is 131 too many.

One of the key factors for this reduced figure has been the increased uptake of wearing lifejackets. Minister Killeen and IWS are appealing to people to wear lifejackets.

Minister Killeen used his visit to the IWS National Office, based in Galway, as an opportunity to review current strategies and comment on Irish Water Safety's planned strategies for the future to reduce this needless waste of life.

The vast majority of drowning incidents - along with many other aquatic injuries - are preventable. Irish Water Safety plays a key role in significantly reducing aquatic injuries and drownings through education and promotion programmes.

Adult supervision of children and the use of personal flotation devices during water recreation activities and the erection of clear, consistent signage and flags are some examples of measures recommended by Irish Water Safety in the past that that have helped prevent drownings.

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