COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, September 22, 2014

QUESTION NO. 18

QUESTION: Councillor W. Lavelle

To ask the Chief Executive for an update on the water safety risk analysis of waterside areas of public parks in the County?

REPLY:

The presence of water in the form of rivers, streams, lakes and ponds in the public parks in the county contributes greatly to the amenity and biodiversity of those parks. The sight and sound of moving water is very attractive and visitors to our parks derive great enjoyment from these amenities. While it is acknowledged that water presents a degree of risk to park users, the risk is minimised through management practices and the provision of ring buoys where appropriate.

Management practices include the creation of shallow edges to artificially constructed ponds and lakes, the provision of bridges with appropriate guard rails and the management of vegetation along the sides / edges to deter the public from immediate access to the waters edge.

There are no designated bathing areas in the county and 'no swimming' signs have been provided at a number of locations around the county.

A survey of the water bodies in the county was undertaken during the summer months by the Council's Health and Safety Advisor. As a result of that survey, a need was identified for the provision of an initial 66 ring buoys at 36 locations around the county. The cost of providing a ring buoy and associated fixtures and fittings is approximately €250 per unit.

Provision has been made in the revised Estimates to enable this work to proceed.