Clare County Council has requested Irish Water Safety (IWS) to conduct a risk assessment regarding a number of diving boards and ladders in Kilkee.
The Kilkee Town Manager confirmed that the equipment has been removed due to health and safety concerns. Members of Kilkee Town Council were notified of the move last night.
Two diving boards and two ladders have been removed until further notice at the Pollock Holes while a further three ladders have been removed from three separate locations, namely Burns Cove, Edmonds Point and Georges Head.
Clare Water Safety Development Officer Liam Griffin confirmed that IWS has been requested to appoint an independent water safety risk assessor to conduct a full assessment of the equipment.
He said any decision to reinstate the equipment would be made pending the outcome of the risk assessment and a further review of the situation by Clare Local Authorities.
“While there has been no reports of accidents or fatalities at the locations concerned, we are all aware that a number of people have unfortunately lost their lives to the sea in County Clare in the recent past and it behoves all of us to do what we can to further improve safety on our beaches”, he explained.
According to Nora Kaye, Acting Town Manager, Kilkee Town Council: “Clare County Council, and indeed all local authorities have a duty to ensure that the provisions of Health and Safety legislation are adhered to, and it must take all steps as are reasonably practicable to ensure the safety of people.”
“Irish Water Safety has been consulted on this issue so as to identify if there is a way to resolve safety issues relating to the diving boards and ladders, so that the people of Kilkee can continue to enjoy what is a traditional feature in Kilkee down through the years. As soon as the risk assessment report is available, the findings and recommendations will be considered by Clare County Council”, Ms. Kaye concluded.
The Kilkee Town Manager confirmed that the equipment has been removed due to health and safety concerns. Members of Kilkee Town Council were notified of the move last night.
Two diving boards and two ladders have been removed until further notice at the Pollock Holes while a further three ladders have been removed from three separate locations, namely Burns Cove, Edmonds Point and Georges Head.
Clare Water Safety Development Officer Liam Griffin confirmed that IWS has been requested to appoint an independent water safety risk assessor to conduct a full assessment of the equipment.
He said any decision to reinstate the equipment would be made pending the outcome of the risk assessment and a further review of the situation by Clare Local Authorities.
“While there has been no reports of accidents or fatalities at the locations concerned, we are all aware that a number of people have unfortunately lost their lives to the sea in County Clare in the recent past and it behoves all of us to do what we can to further improve safety on our beaches”, he explained.
According to Nora Kaye, Acting Town Manager, Kilkee Town Council: “Clare County Council, and indeed all local authorities have a duty to ensure that the provisions of Health and Safety legislation are adhered to, and it must take all steps as are reasonably practicable to ensure the safety of people.”
“Irish Water Safety has been consulted on this issue so as to identify if there is a way to resolve safety issues relating to the diving boards and ladders, so that the people of Kilkee can continue to enjoy what is a traditional feature in Kilkee down through the years. As soon as the risk assessment report is available, the findings and recommendations will be considered by Clare County Council”, Ms. Kaye concluded.
