Donegal County Council is to compile a comprehensive report after concerns were experssed over the use of jetskis and other maritime pleasure craft at Donegal’s beaches.
It follows an increase in reports of near misses between beach-users in recent weeks.
With many people due to flood into the county for staycations, concern has been expressed for the mis-use of such craft over the summer months.
The issue was discussed at the Joint Policing Committee meeting in recent days.
Various concerns were expressed by a number of councillors.
Councillor Barry Sweeney said he was aware locally of issues around Creevy Pier in the south of the county.
He said there was ongoing issues with jetski users and people swimming in the area.
He said the problem was nobody appeared to know if such machinery was banned or not in the area as there was no signage.
He added that if people did have concerns about such activity they were unsure who to call and who policed this issue.
JPC member James Trearty said the use of such pleasure craft was a real area of concern for people at beaches.
He suggested that perhaps some form of regulations could be enforced which stopped such craft from coming within close proximity to the shoreline and “performing their twirls.”
He added that there was an accident waiting to happen and suggested that a campaign be launched educating people on the dangers of such craft and how they should exercise caution around them.
Donegal County Council’s Paddy Doherty said there were specific bylaws which governed each area.
However, he added that he would relay the concerns back to the Environment section of the council and report back on the matter.
The following are the beach by-law which cover County Donegal.
Beach By-Laws – Co Donegal
Two sets of Bye-Laws govern beaches in Co Donegal as follows:-
Regulation and Control of Certain Beaches Bye-Laws 2009
Regulation and Control of Certain Maritime Craft Bye-Laws 2009
Regulation and Control of Certain Beaches Bye-Laws 2009
These bye-laws apply at the following Beaches:-
Carrickfin Killahoey (Dunfanaghy) Narin
Culdaff Lisfannon Rathmullan
Tra Beag (Downings) Marble Hill Rossnowlagh (Belalt Strand)
Fintra Murvagh Stroove (White Bay)
Portsalon (Warden Stocker Strand)
The Bye-Laws prohibit the following:-
• Motor Vehicles onto or along the beaches (with exception of Tra Beg (Downings) and Rossnowlagh (Belait Strand) where people are permitted to drive along and park on the beaches in areas that are not designated as Car Free).
• Camping or Overnight Parking
• Horses on the designated beaches during the months of June, July & August between the hours of 11.00am-7.00pm unless a licence has been obtained in advance from Donegal County Council.
The Bye-Laws also govern the following:-
• Person in charge of a dog(s) on a beach must keep dog on a leash of less than 2 metres during months of June, July & August.
• Damage to dune system on beaches is prohibited and due care taken when walking on dunes
• Archery, golf, paint balling or any other game/sport involving high speed projectiles on a beach is prohibited
• Sale or offer of sale for any vehicle or article whatsoever on a beach unless a licence for such activity is obtained from Donegal County Council in advance and it is carried out in accordance with the conditions of the licence.
• Tuition in surfing or any other watersports activity on a beach for monetary reward unless a licence is obtained in advance from Donegal County Council and the activity conducted in accordance with the conditions of the licence.
Anyone found to have contravened any of these bye-laws can be issued with a fixed payment fine of €75.00 or prosecuted (under Section 206(1) of the Act). Fines must be paid to be paid within four weeks from the date it is served.
Regulation and Control of Certain Maritime Craft Bye-Laws 2009
These bye-laws govern the use of watercraft in the interest of the safety of people using the waters and/or to prevent nuisance to or injury to persons or damage to watercraft or other property. The bye-laws refer to all coastal waters at/off designated areas in the county (specified areas are mapped). For the purposes of the Bye-Laws these areas are divided into three Schedules as follows:-
Schedule A
Carrickfin Beach
Culdaff Beach
Killahoey Beach (Dunfanaghy)
Murvagh Beach
Narin Beach
Stroove Beach
Bundoran Beach
Schedule B
Tullan Strand and Erne Estuary
Lisfannon Beach
Marbel Hill Beach
Rathmullan Beach
Portsalon Beach (Warden Stocker Strand)
Fintra Beach
Rossnowlagh Beach (Belait Strnd)
Tra Beg Beach (Downings)
Schedule C
Trabeg Beach (Downings)
These bye-laws prohibit the following:-
• The use of personal watercraft and recreation craft in Schedule A waters.
• The use of personal watercraft in Schedule B waters
• Personal watercraft being launched, moored or berthed in Schedule A waters
• Personal watercraft being launched, moored or berthed in Schedule B waters
• Speed limit for recreational craft of not exceeding 5 knots for a distance of 100 metres from any launch or landing site in Schedule B
• Speed limit for recreational craft and personal watercraft of not exceeding 5 knots for a distance of 100 metres from any launch or landing site in Schedule C
These Bye-Laws do not apply to craft described in Section 18 of the Maritime Safety Act 2005 or to craft operated by a recognised Water Safety Association or other body for the purposes of training persons in the operation of the craft or general water safety or providing a water safety service which received approval in writing in advance from Donegal County Council.
Additional information:-
• Camping and Casual Trading at beaches are currently under review by Donegal County Council
• New legislation re quad bikes and scramblers is also in the process of being introduced which will give Gardai powers to confiscate vehicles and prohibit the use of bikes on public or private land without permission from the landowner.