Join Water Safety Ireland
Sadly, an average of 116 people drowned per year between 2018 and 2022. Most drownings happen during land-based activities such as walking, hiking, angling, farming, and driving. Every drowning is a tragedy that could be prevented.
By becoming a member of Water Safety Ireland (WSI) you can help aid us in our goal to prevent drownings. You are very welcome to become a member of WSI, whether through voluntary membership or franchise membership. Your association with WSI can also be a combination of both. Whatever route you decide to take, your decision to join and help us educate and promote water safety to the general public will, in the long term, help to reduce the number of these tragedies nationwide. Take your first step to helping others avoid becoming a drowning statistic by joining today.
Become a Volunteer Member
Volunteer members are the backbone of our organisation, giving back to their communities by teaching swimming, lifesaving and promoting water safety messages to the public. They spread the mission of WSI at schools, colleges, exhibitions and many other events. If you are interested in getting involved on a volunteer basis, whether it be as a helper, organiser, Swim Teacher or Instructor please contact the Secretary of the WSI Water Safety Area Committee (WSAC) in your area. There are 30 WSACs in counties nationwide, including one for members of the Defence Forces and one for members of the Garda Siochana.
By joining a local WSAC you will have an opportunity to meet others who have a genuine interest in reducing drownings by increasing awareness of best practises, not only in the teaching of swimming and lifesaving classes but also in the development of local promotional activities to raise general water safety awareness in your community. You can contact the Secretary of your Local Water Safety Area through the Local Contacts section of this website.
Become a Franchise Member
Many Swim Teachers wish to become franchise members in order to avail of insurance that would cover them for private courses. Franchise members can deliver WSI qualifications in these private courses, as well as give time to their local WSAC and qualify candidates that way. There are steps to becoming a franchise member, which we have listed below.
The following items are necessary for application. Please post hard copies of any documents listed to our head office in Galway. The address is listed at the end of this section.
- Become a member of Water Safety Ireland by clicking tab below
- Completed NVB 1 Invitation for online vetting. Verification of identity is necessary for this step. Please see our Vetting Policy
- Copies of relevant qualifications
- Child Safeguarding Statement
- Proof of Code of Ethics course/ Child Protection course attended, for example, https://www.tusla.ie/children-first/children-first-e-learning-programme/
- WSI-specific Child Protection course (link to this is sent once Tusla cert is received)
- Signed Franchise Agreement
Please note:
- Submission of all items listed is required before the Registration process can begin
- We are required by law to vet prospective Registries. Unfortunately no information can be exchanged between organisations. If you have undergone a vetting procedure with another organisation, you are still required to undergo vetting with WSI. Proof of verification of your ID is required when submitting your Vetting Invitation and your eVetting Form should be signed with your ID verified by one of the following:
- Water Safety Development Officer in your local County Council: https://watersafety.ie/water-safety-development-officers
- Water Safety Area Committees Contacts: https://watersafety.ie/local-contacts/
- We are required by law to request a Child Safeguarding Statement. These are to be reviewed annually and sent to us for our records.
- Paid Registration Fee (applicable after one year for ex STA Members). Franchise membership is priced at €30 for one year and €100 for five years.
- You can only purchase insurance once your Franchise Registration has been approved. The fee for insurance is separate and current prices are listed below, though these are subject to change by the insurance provider at any time. Insurance can be purchased directly from them, and we will connect you once all other steps have been completed and your membership has been approved.
Cover Options:
(a) Public Liability – Limit of Indemnity €2.6m including Personal Accident Death & Capital benefits € 50,000.
(b) Public Liability – Limit of Indemnity €6.5m including Personal Accident Death & Capital benefits € 50,000.
Premiums:
Option A € 120 plus 5% levy
Option B €150 plus 5% levy
It is a condition that (a) You shall not coach more than 12 students at any one time (b) You must be a member of Water Safety Ireland and meet the WSI qualification standard, as well as comply with the Water Safety Ireland Code of Ethics.
Please post all paperwork related to your Franchise Membership application to Water Safety Ireland, The Long Walk, Galway H91 F602.
Garda Vetting
Water Safety Ireland require all prospective members to be Garda Vetted.
The National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act commenced on the 29th of April 2016 and provides a legislative basis for the mandatory vetting of persons who wish to undertake certain work or activities relating to children or vulnerable persons or to provide certain services to children or vulnerable persons.
Unfortunately no information can be exchanged between organisations. Vetting disclosures from other organisations will not be taken into consideration.