Cork city forced to replace 25 life buoys every month

Almost 300 life buoys along the city stretches of Cork city’s River Lee have to be replaced every year due to vandalism.

In addition to putting lives at risk, the vandalism has cost City Hall almost €15,000 a year, with each life-saving device costing around €50.

New figures show Cork City Council replaces an average of 25 lifebuoys which go missing from their holders every month following deliberate acts of vandalism. They had to replace 31 devices in September alone. Some are later recovered from the water. The figures emerged in response to a written question from FG city councillor John Buttimer last week.