All of the slipways at piers in Connemara should be treated with a chemical to make them safer – to avoid a repeat of the tragedy that occurred in Buncrana in March.
Galway County Council has given an undertaking to consider a programme of works at the slipways but said that it was a budgetary matter.
But Cllr Noel Thomas from Moycullen that there is a chemical available, which is environmentally acceptable, that will clear the slipways of the presence of algae for a nominal cost.
Cllr Thomas said that the growth of algae on these slipways make them “like glass” and that there is a chemical that is used in piers in Britain which resolves this problem.
And he said that there are young people who drive down slipways in Connemara late at night and they are taking their lives in their hands.
Director of Services Liam Gavin said that they were taking the issue of safety at piers very seriously and that some work had commenced last year.
Several councillors in Connemara, in particular, have now raised the issue of the safety on slipways in the wake of the tragedy in Donegal in which five people lost their lives when their vehicle ended up in the sea.
Last week, Galway Harbour Company blocked access to a slipway at Galway Docks and are considering erecting barriers in view of the amount of young people who have lost their lives in the city in recent months.
Connemara area Cllr Noel Thomas says the spray needed to rid slipways of a dangerous, slippery weed build-up is inexpensive and could save lives.
He’s calling on the council to carry out the required works at the many slipways across the county to prevent accidents over the summer period.
The proposal will be discussed at Strategic Policy Committee level before coming back before the full council for consideration.
“There is a chemical that can be purchased for around €150 a drum that can clear 3,000 square metres of algae and that would certainly do a lot of piers in the area.
“We are coming into the summer months when there are a lot of tourists around and the last thing we need is another Buncrana-type accident occurring when it can be prevented,” Cllr Thomas added.
Cllr Joe Folan said that he agreed with the suggestion of Cllr Thomas and would not agree with barriers being installed at piers as it would affect local fishermen and those bringing in seaweed.
The South Connemara councillor said that it would be both costly and disruptive for the local fishing industry when there was a solution available that would make the piers much safer for a fraction of the cost.
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