Gerard C. Connolly
Question:31 Mr. Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment the steps, if any, he will take to stop the decline in the number of blue flag beaches in Ireland in view of the upward trend in other EU states. [12367/96]
Written Answers. - Blue Flag Beaches.
Ireland's record in relation to blue flag awards to beaches compares very favourably with the rest of Europe. Statistics compiled by the Foundation for Environmental Education in Europe —FEEE — which operates the scheme, indicate that 50 per cent of Irish beaches were awarded blue flags in 1996 compared with the European average of only 12 per cent. The next most successful country was Portugal where 34 per cent of beaches obtained blue flags.
The criteria for the award of blue flags are determined by FEEE and relate to water quality, facilities for visitors, beach management, including litter control, and environmental information and display facilities. As far as water quality is concerned, FEEE seeks to emphasise and recognise bathing areas achieving standards of excellence, assessed on the basis of guide values for certain parameters contained in the directive on the quality of bathing water. These values are up to 20 times more stringent than the mandatory standards set in the directive.
Fifty-nine blue flags were awarded to Irish beaches in 1996 compared with 66 last year. I understand that the reduction in awards was due to beach management problems and difficulties in relation to the water quality requirements of the scheme. I also understand that the local authorities for the beaches concerned have attributed the situation in relation to water quality to variable weather conditions or explicable results obtained on a few sampling dates. These exceptional results generally occurred in areas removed from the influence of sewage discharges.
Applications for blue flags are usually made by local authorities and it is primarily a matter for them to ensure that the criteria in relation to beach management and water quality are satisfied. Extensive powers are available to local authorities under the Litter and Water Pollution Acts to deal with any activities which may compromise their ability to observe these criteria.