Call for better access to beaches for emergency services

COUNCILLOR Brian Carr has called for measures to improve emergency services’ access to beaches and a review of the current lifesaving facilities.

The Sinn Féin councillor raised the motion at Tuesday’s meeting of the Glenties Municipal District. This was his first meeting since an incident that nearly claimed his life.

During a family trip to Tramore beach in August, his nine-year-old son Ben and 10-year-old niece Amelia were swept out to sea. Cllr Carr attempted to save them but got into difficulty himself.

At this week’s meeting, he described how the ambulance crew had to park a kilometre away from the beach and carry their equipment to the scene.

Cllr Carr also called for a system to be set up to help identify beach locations when emergency services are called.

In response, council representatives acknowledged the accessibility challenges at some beaches and said they would raise the concerns with the water safety officer.

However, with the longest mainland coastline in the country, they pointed out the difficulty in covering all beaches.

Council officials also took the opportunity to highlight that there are 21 designated bathing areas and 14 blue flag beaches in the county, and said they encourage swimmers to use these locations.