122 I reland ’ s E nvironment 2 0 0 8

Map 9.3 Bathing Water Quality (Source: EPA, 2008) A new directive concerning the management of bathing water

Galway Area quality (European Parliament and Council, 2006) came into force

al a d h Marble Hill Downings id ac #Culdaff # Sp rb Portnablagh in 24 March 2006 and will repeal Fo #Ballyhernan Stroove a Killahoey # N #Salthill ## #Portsalon An C#noc, Inverin###### Drumatinny#### # #Lady's Bay Port Arthur# Rathmullan## the existing 1976 directive with r d # Carrickfinn# Lisfannon ie n # P ra l St # da # d er effect from 31 December 2014. pi lv S Si Naran, Portnoo#

0 20 The new directive gives stronger Km# Fintra# #Murvagh focus to the protection of public Rossnowlagh# Bundoran# Mullaghmore # health, a proactive approach Rinroe, Carratigue# # # to the management of bathing Elly Bay, Belmullet # ## Killala, Ross Strand Mullaghroe# Golden Strand, Achill water quality and greater public Doogort ## Keem Achill##Keel, Achill #Shelling Hill/Templetown Dooega, Achill# #Mulranny # participation. It establishes stricter Keeldra #Port, Lurganboy The Harbour, Clare Island# # ###Bertra #Clogherhead Carrowmore# # Louisburgh, Old Head Beach Seapoint microbiological standards for #Laytown/Bettystown Louisburgh, Silver Strand# The Cut, Lough Lene# # ## two new parameters, intestinal Portnashangan, Lough Owel # Clifden# # Lilliput, Lough Ennel# # # ## enterococci and Escherichia coli Gortin # ### Trá Chaladh bhFuinnse # ### # Trá an Doilin ##### which will be used to classify bathing Loughrea Lake #Bray Traught, Kinvara# # # #Greystones Cill Muirbhithe# # # Fanore Bishopsquarter #Bathing Place at Portumna waters as ‘poor’, ‘sufficient’, ‘good’

#Silver Strand Lahinch# # Mountshannon #Brittas Bay north and ‘excellent’. The classification of Miltown Malbay# # # # # Brittas Bay south Spanish Point Ballyallia Lake Ballycuggeran # Doonbeg# #Clogga Beach bathing waters will be determined, in Kilkee# # # # Ballymoney Cappagh Pier, Kilrush general, on the basis of a four-year Ballybunion north# # # Morriscastle Ballybunion south Ballyheigue# # period instead of a single bathing Banna Strand# Maharabeg # # # Castlegregory Fenit season result. This means that the Tramore # Bonmahon # Ventry# Inch# # ### # # , main strand ## Clonea East classification will be less susceptible Kells # Rossbeigh Dunmore East, Counsellors strand White Strand, Caherciveen# ## Redbarn# Ardmore to bad weather or one-off incidents. Inny, Waterville## # ± Ballinskelligs # # Garryvoe Claycastle Derrynane Fountainstown Coolmaine ###Garrylucas Warren # Balbriggan Analysis of bathing water quality ## Garretstown Dublin Area # # Inchydoney #Skerries # Tragumna Owenahincha in the context of the directive Barley Cove #Loughshinny # # Rush and the associated national 0 120 #Portrane Km Donabate regulations is separate from, though #Malahide # Bathing Water Quality Compliance Status Portmarnock complementary to, the European #Sutton # Compliant with EU Guide Values (Good Quality) # Dollymount Strand Blue Flag Scheme, a voluntary public # Compliant with EU Mandatory Values (Acceptable Quality) #Sandymount Strand #Merrion Strand information and advice scheme # Non Compliant with EU Guide and # Seapoint Mandatory Values (Insufficient Quality) 0 20 #Killiney administered in by An Km Includes Ordnance Survey Ireland data reproduced under OSI License number EN 0059208. # Taisce and, at European level, by the Foundation for Environmental Education in Europe. To receive concerning the quality of bathing Annual monitoring was carried out a blue flag, a bathing site must, waters (CEC, 1976). The purpose at 131 designated bathing areas (122 in addition to maintaining a high of the directive is to ensure that seawater, 9 freshwater) during the standard of water quality, meet bathing water quality is maintained 2004-2007 review period. During specified objectives with regard to and, if necessary, improved, so that each year of the review period, over the provision of safety services and it complies with specified standards 96 per cent of the seawater bathing facilities, environmental management designed to protect public health areas complied with the minimum of the beach area and environmental and the environment. Since 1996, mandatory standards laid down by education. The award is based on the the EPA has been collating the EU legislation. The proportion of performance and standards achieved water quality results from the local seawater bathing areas complying during the previous bathing season. authorities and reporting these in with the more stringent EU guideline A total of 73 beaches were awarded summarised form. standards fluctuated during the blue flags in 2004, rising to 79 and review period, from 88 per cent in 81 in 2005 and 2006 respectively but 2004 to 92 per cent in 2005, but decreasing to 78 beaches in 2008 decreasing to 81 per cent in 2007.