Blue Flag beaches under threat over lifeguard hiring ban

IRELAND’S cleanest beaches will lose their coveted Blue Flag status unless the Government does a U-turn on public service recruitment and allows local authorities employ lifeguards for the summer season.

The blanket ban on permanent and temporary recruitment forbids councils from employing extra staff, including lifeguards and others associated with proper beach management.

A number of local authorities have already applied for a dispensation from the ban but none, so far, has been given the final go-ahead.

An Taisce administers the Blue Flag programme. Its spokesman Jimmy McVeigh said: “Lifeguarding provision at individual Irish beaches is set out in a Safety Risk Assessment (SRA) conducted by Irish Water Safety. An SRA must be complied with for a beach to be eligible for a Blue Flag Award, in accordance with the International Blue Flag Criteria.

“This is not only in the case of lifeguards, but also other seasonal staff involved in beach management, such as litter clearance staff and beach wardens,” he said.

However, he said it was the responsibility of individual local authorities to apply directly to the Minister for Finance for a dispensation.

“An Taisce understand that individual local authorities have already applied for a dispensation from the Minister for Finance in order to resolve this issue positively, in advance of the 2009 bathing season.”

The Local Government Management Services Board (LGMSB) is representing the interests of local authorities in discussions with the Department of Environment in relation to the recruitment embargo. However, no decision has been made.

Kerry County Council has made a submission to the LGMSB.

“As discussions are still ongoing, we have not yet received any indication as to whether approval will be given for the recruitment of lifeguards. However, given that lifeguards normally appear on Kerry’s 13 Blue Flag beaches at the start of June, our timescale is quite limited and we are proceeding with our plans, in anticipation of approval being given,” a spokesperson said.

“Tourism is crucial to the economy of Kerry, and the 13 Blue Flag beaches in the county are a vital element in attracting tourists to Kerry.”

The loss of 13 Blue Flags would prove to “be a savage blow in selling Kerry as a prime tourist destination”.

“In addition, the potential absence of lifeguards on Kerry’s Blue Flag beaches during the busiest time of the year also raises safety concerns, both in and out of the water.”

The Department of the Environment admitted it was aware of concerns the awarding of Blue Flag status could be “negatively impacted” by the absence of lifeguards.

Galway County Council has also requested, through the Department of the Environment, approval to recruit lifeguards for the summer season and is awaiting a response. “The provision of lifeguards is funded locally, without assistance from central Government, and therefore we will be aiming to continue with the provision of the service once approval to recruit the relevant staff is received,” said a spokesperson.

Councils without Blue Flag beaches are also affected. A spokesperson for Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council said it had no difficulty funding the employment of lifeguards for the summer bathing season but had to wait for clarification from the department and hoped “that a favourable reply would be received”.