Irish Water Safety is expected to oppose a merger with the Irish Coast Guard, which has been proposed as part of a consultancy review.
The review by Deloitte and Touche consultants, details of which were in yesterday's Irish Times, identifies "overlaps" by the organisations and says that a merger should be considered.
Irish Water Safety is a statutory independent body, with headquarters in Galway, and is funded through voluntary fundraising, contributions from State bodies and part-financed by the Department of Environment.
Its responsibilities include teaching swimming and lifesaving courses to children and adults, training of lifeguards, risk assessment of all bathing areas and promotion of water safety.
The Irish Coast Guard is currently run by the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, and is responsible for search and rescue offshore and on inland waterways.
It is also responsible for pollution control, salvage and protection of the marine environment to 200 miles. A new maritime safety directorate with overall responsibility has recently been established by the Minister, Mr Ahern, under the directorship of Mr Maurice Mullen.
The consultants note that dissemination of water safety information is a function of both bodies, and says it should remain an "essential and high profile function" of the Irish Coast Guard. Overlaps with Irish Water Safety do not appear to affect the role of either body, it notes.
Lieut-Cdr John Leech, chief executive of Irish Water Safety, told The Irish Times the majority of accidental drownings in the State were environmental rather than marine-related. It is estimated that some 15 per cent of the total take place in marine waters.
He said the organisation had an independent voice and role under its statutory functions, which could not best be served if it was to merge. It also had a very close working relationship with local authorities.
The review's main recommendation is that Irish Coast Guard should be established as an agency and should cut its chain of control centres from three to two.
It also recommends that it take over responsibility for co-ordinating mountain and cave rescue. The consultants say that the coastguard provides an "excellent service" in relation to its core functions, but makes over 100 recommendations aimed at improving efficiency.
