Vol. 572 No. 5
63 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government the advice and help which has been given to local authorities which would improve coastal water quality and result in more blue flags being awarded. [23629/03]
The blue flag scheme is operated by the Foundation for Environmental Education, an international non-governmental organisation based in Denmark, and is administered in Ireland by An Taisce. A local authority which wishes to apply for a blue flag for a beach makes application to An Taisce which provides advice and guidance with regard to the scheme, the criteria on which decisions are based and aspects of beach management which may require improvement in order to secure or retain a blue flag. My Department provides grant-aid to An Taisce as a contribution towards the administration expenses of the scheme.
The total of 79 blue flags awarded in 2003 in relation to 73 beaches and six marinas maintained the high number of blue flags awarded in Ireland in 2002. My Department requested a report from An Taisce as to the options and measures that might be pursued for increasing the number of blue flags awarded to areas in Ireland. I understand that An Taisce is currently undertaking research in the matter and aims to have its report completed by mid-November 2003.
The blue flag scheme is mainly directed towards developed, resort beaches which have, in addition to excellent water quality, appropriate infrastructure and services. As a complement to the blue flag scheme, a separate environmental award scheme called the green coast award is now being operated on a pilot basis to recognise beaches which have excellent water quality and which are also prized for their natural unspoilt environment. The scheme is being applied at this stage to the east coast of Ireland and forms part of the clean coast project which is operated by An Taisce in partnership with the keep Wales tidy project. The project commenced in July 2003 and is substantially funded by INTERREG with additional financial support provided to An Taisce by my Department. It follows an initial pilot scheme which operated between Wexford County Council and the keep Wales tidy project.
The potential for an increased number of environmental awards is being enhanced by the major investment programme under way to upgrade sewerage networks and wastewater treatment facilities. My Department's updated programme for investment in water services in 2003-05 relates to 491 wastewater schemes with an estimated capital value of €3.4 billion, including all of the schemes needed for compliance with the requirements of the urban waste water treatment directive. In addition, the programme now includes the schemes necessary to ensure the provision of wastewater treatment at every agglomeration of over 1,000 head of population equivalent.
As part of the implementation of the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC, my Department is promoting and funding, at regional level, the establishment by local authorities of interauthority projects to develop river basin monitoring and management systems and to provide the bulk of the baseline data required for implementation of the directive and for development of river basin management plans. Three such projects have already commenced and a further three projects are planned. The river basin management projects will cover all inland surface waters and groundwaters as well as estuaries and coastal waters out to a distance of one nautical mile. These projects will identify all significant impacts on water quality and quantity, set quality objectives and identify and put in place the necessary monitoring and management measures to achieve those objectives. These projects should lead to improved water quality in coastal areas which in turn will have a significant positive effect on the quality of bathing water in those areas.
Question No. 64 answered with Question No. 9.
Question No. 65 answered with Question No. 62.
Question No. 66 answered with Question No. 55.
