Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 November 2021
395. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when SI No. 79 of 2008 related to extending the bathing season in Dublin Bay for the purposes of enabling all year round water quality testing will be amended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52943/21]
View answerMy officials are currently examining the most suitable options to provide for safe bathing water during the winter months, and improve the dissemination of information around bathing water quality, particularly in the Dublin bay area. Both Minister Noonan and I have met with a number local interest groups for the Dublin Bay area, including the Dublin Bay SOS Group, and I am committed to developing a solution that will allow flexibility around the bathing season and the protection of those people who swim throughout the year.
Ongoing work by the Dublin Bay Task Group, chaired by Dublin City Council is aimed at improving bathing water quality all year round. The work of this group, and the welcome commitment from Irish Water to operate its ultraviolet filter at Ringsend for a period outside of the bathing season are already providing improved protection for bathers, while also improving our knowledge of the quality of our bathing waters outside of the defined season.
My officials will examine options with the Bathing Water Expert Group at the next meeting of the group. The group will undertake a robust analysis of the positive and negative consequences of each of the options. In particular I know the group will want to ensure existing summertime bathing water designations are not jeopardised in the short term as a consequence of weather-effected winter sampling results while also providing protection to those bathing in Dublin Bay all the way through the year. The next meeting of the Bathing Water Expert Group is expected to take place in early December, after which I will give consideration to the most appropriate option for amending the regulations.
