26 bathing places fail EU standards, says EPA

TWENTY-SIX beaches and freshwater sites around Ireland failed to meet the strict EU guide grade for bathing water quality last year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The seaside and freshwater locations that did not meet the EU limits included: Merrion Strand, Donabate, Malahide, Portmarnock, Skerries, Sutton Burrow beach, Loughshinny in Dublin, Spiddal main beach, Trá Chaladh bhFuinnse, Portumna in Co Galway, Ardmore, Bonmahon, Dunmore East main strand in Co Waterford, Bray and Greystones in Co Wicklow and Laytown/ Bettystown in Co Meath. The other coastal and inland sites on the list were: Duncannon, Co Wexford; Ballyallia, Co Clare; Keeldra, Co Leitrim; Seapoint, Co Louth, along with Enniscrone and Rosses Point in Co Sligo.

While they all passed mandatory standards of cleanliness, many had significant levels of faecal and total coliforms. Youghal in Co Cork, Balbriggan in Co Dublin, Clifden and Na Forbacha in Co Galway failed the EU mandatory assessment.

The EPA said the results were not connected to Blue Flag status measurements attached to coastal areas, but were solely based on water quality. Commenting on the the EPA’s The Quality of Bathing Water in Ireland 2007 report, the Minister for the Environment John Gormley, said the Government has been fully committed to maintaining and improving the high standards of Irish bathing waters. He said he was disappointed that four spots did not make the grade.

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times