Donegal County Council could soon move forward on a trial programme to monitor lifebuoys in selected areas of the county.
Smart technology was recently piloted in Dublin to deter anti-social misuse and theft of life buoys. Sensors are placed to monitor lifebuoys, so that the council can be immediately alerted if lifebuoys are removed from their location, and therefore easily located or replaced and available for use in the event of an emergency.
Councillor Jimmy Kavanagh, Fine Gael, previously called on Donegal County Council to consider placing tracking devices on the vital equipment near waterways following a number of concerning incidents.
Since then, Donegal County Council said that a National Framework Agreement has been reached with three solutions getting the green-light to compete for further contracts.
Donegal County Council’s Environment and Marine sections have shortlisted 20 remote, vulnerable or crucial ringbuoy locations for a trial program in the county. Requests have recently been made to the three companies for a proposal. It is hoped that the trial can be launched when submissions have been received.
Cllr. Kavanagh welcomed an update he received on the programme in this week’s October meeting of the Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District.
Speaking on the issue Cllr. Kavanagh said: “Such technology could potentially save lives. 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. 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.
“I welcome the council’s answer that they have identified 20 suitable locations to trial the technology in Donegal and I hope this can happen soon, and that the system is available as soon as possible for all the ringbuoys in the county.
“In the meantime if you know of a missing ringbuoy you can report it to Donegal county council or log it online at www.ringbuoys.ie.”
