Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 March 2022
324. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the changes that are expected to be made to SI. 79/2008 to ensure compliance with the 2006 EU bathing water directive; and if he will provide a timeline for the amendment of SI. 79/2008. [16291/22]
View answer325. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the status of the work of the Bathing Water Expert Group in respect of its examination of measures to protect the health of bathers outside of statutory bathing seasons; the findings, preliminary or otherwise of same; if year-round water quality monitoring has been recommended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16292/22]
View answer326. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of his engagement with the Bathing Water Expert Group in respect of water quality for bathers to-date in 2022. [16293/22]
View answer327. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the recommendations that have been made by the Bathing Water Expert Group in respect of priority actions critical to delivering Ireland’s obligations under the bathing water directive; and the steps that have been taken to implement same. [16294/22]
View answer328. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if Ireland will be in a position to declare full compliance with the 2006 European Union's bathing water directive by the end of 2022; and if not, the steps that need to be taken in order that Ireland is compliant; and when they will be implemented. [16295/22]
View answer329. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the reduction of wastewater discharge into bathing areas; if he will report on the Irish Water Strategic Funding Plan 2019-2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16296/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 324 to 329, inclusive, together.
The EPA reports in the Bathing Water Quality in Ireland 2020 report that 96% of bathing waters met or exceeded the minimum required standard, up from 95% in 2019.
I was pleased to see the continued improvements in the quality of our bathing waters, especially those bathing waters that are meeting or exceeding the minimum water quality requirements.
Of the four bathing waters classified as Poor in 2020, the main issue was a waste water discharge in Clifden Beach, Co. Galway; impact from agriculture in Lilliput, Co. Westmeath; a combination of sewage discharges and misconnections from domestic plumbing systems, birds and other animals, and contaminated surface streams in Balbriggan, Co. Dublin; and unusually high rainfall events impacted Cuas Crom, Co. Kerry, with no clear pollution source evident.
The relevant local authorities have management plans in place detailing the actions required to mitigate theses impacts. Where waste water is deemed to be an issue the local authorities continue to liaise closely with both the EPA and Irish Water and these actions have been, or are currently being implemented.
Excellent work is being carried out by each of our local authorities and other stakeholders on the continued improvements in our bathing water quality. To protect bathers' health and ensure that public have access to bathing water amenities it is important that the network of bathing waters is strengthened and enhanced and we continue to see new beaches identified each year.
The European Commission reviews the implementation of the Bathing Water Directive by Member States with the last review undertaken in 2018. This review found that Ireland is fundamentally in line with the provisions of the Directive. The Commission recommended that Ireland improve the provision of information on algae and short-term pollution. This has since been put in place. The report concluded that Ireland offers several good practices demonstrating how the Directive can be effectively implemented in practice. The next EPA Bathing Water Quality, in relation to 2021, is due to be published in May 2022.
The bathing season under the Bathing Water Regulations is from the 1 June to 15 September each year. There has been a call to have a longer bathing season in some areas. In response, I have met with stakeholders and I have asked the National Bathing Water Expert Group, chaired by officials in my Department, to consider the matter, including bathing water monitoring data, and make recommendations on how best to protect bathers’ health outside of the current bathing water season and what additional measures may be necessary.
The Expert Group have developed a questionnaire for the public, and a questionnaire for local authorities, to determine who is bathing during the winter months, where this bathing is occurring and the expectations of winter bathers. This information, to be gathered within the coming two months, will inform the development of guidance for bathers outside of the current bathing water season, and assist in informing the Expert Group if any additional changes, including regulatory and/or monitoring changes, are required. This assessment is ongoing and I have asked the Expert Group to report back to me in time for the outputs to be implemented ahead of the close of the designated bathing season in September 2022.
