By Diarmaid Doherty
PLANS are in place to begin a special trial programme at up to 20 locations around Donegal where smart technology is to be introduced to monitor lifebuoys.
The hope is that if the programme proves successful, it will help address the increasing problem of lifebuoys being removed or vandalised.
In Letterkenny, there has been growing frustration at the number of times the lifebuoy at Oldtown Bridge has been removed.
Local councillor Jimmy Kavanagh first tabled a motion highlighting the issue in May 2021.
He asked Donegal County Council to consider the idea of installing smart technology to monitor lifebuoys. He said the technology could immediately alert staff if lifebuoys are removed, and also allow them to be located.
The matter was back on the agenda at last week’s meeting of the Letterkenny Milford Municipal District where Cllr Kavanagh sought an update on his motion from over two years ago.
“Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for lifebuoys to be vandalised or removed from their location even though it is very difficult to understand why anyone would do such a thing,” he said.
“This is an issue not just in Donegal but across the entire country.
“Some counties have reported as many as 40% of their lifebuoys being stolen or removed from their proper location. A lost lifebuoy can mean a lost life.”
Donegal County Council confirmed that the council’s Environment and Marine sections have shortlisted 20 remote, vulnerable or crucial ringbuoy locations for a trial programme in the county.
“At present the council depend on their own inspections or reports from members of the public to alert them to missing life rings,” a council spokesperson explained.
“An automated system where the relevant council official could be immediately alerted by email if a ringbuoy was removed or stolen would enable the council to respond immediately by either locating the whereabouts of the ringbuoy or replacing it in a timely fashion.”
Welcoming the council’s update, Cllr Kavanagh said he hopes the trial programme can happen soon.
“Hopefully the system is available as soon as possible for all the ring buoys in the county,” he added.
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