Vol. 521 No. 1
221 Mr. Lawlor asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will respond to an EU report on bathing water here, which indicates that although the overall quality of bathing water improved in 1999 over 1998 it is likely that there will be a decrease of 10% in the numbers of beaches entitled to fly the blue flag. [16345/00]
The recently published report of the European Commission on bathing water quality in 1999 indicates significant improvements in bathing water quality in Ireland over the 1998 bathing season.
Monitoring of bathing water quality is undertaken by local authorities in accordance with national regulations implementing the European Council directive on quality of bathing waters (76/160/EEC). An annual report on the quality of bathing water in Ireland is prepared by the Environmental Protection Agency using the results of such monitoring. An EU-wide composite report is published annually by the European Commission.
The European Commission composite report on "The Quality of Bathing Water" for the 1999 bathing season was issued in May 2000 and indicates that 98.3% of Irish bathing sites complied with the mandatory values laid down in the directive, with a compliance rate of 100% in inland sites. The percentage complying with the more strict guide values rose sharply from 80.2% to 89.2% in 1999. These are very impressive and encouraging results and are among the best across the European Union.
The monitoring results on the quality of bathing waters are taken into account as part of the assessment criteria for the award of blue flags for beaches. These assessment criteria include a wide range of other matters including, for example, public information notices, environmental education activities, ease of access, provision of litter bins, first aid and public toilet facilities. I have no function in the awarding of blue flags to beaches or the determination of the criteria for their award. The blue flag scheme is operated by the Foundation for Environmental Education in Europe, a non-governmental organisation, and is administered in Ireland by An Taisce. A grant of £41,928 was paid to An Taisce by my Department in 1999 as a contribution towards the costs of administering the scheme.
