‘Privatisation of pools having adverse effect on provision of safety classes’

The privatisation of the country’s swimming pools is having an adverse effect on the provision of safety classes for children, the statutory body established to promote water safety has said.

Irish Water Safety runs a dedicated programme for schools, but its CEO says the cost of pool hire has proven prohibitive to those wanting to take part in the Primary Aquatics Water Safety (PAWS) scheme.

“The main reason for the lack of take up in the PAWS programme is that the schools or the majority of their pupils cannot afford the pool hire,” said John Leech. He added that local authorities’ withdrawal from managing swimming pools has played a part in the problem.