Ireland gets full marks from the European Commission for its monitoring of bathing-water standards, although the overall high standard of Irish beaches fell somewhat last year.
In its annual report on bathing-water quality for 1997, the Commission singles out four beaches in the Republic and two in Northern Ireland as not meeting the minimum mandatory quality standards: Salthill and Clifden in Co Galway, Dunmore East Main Strand and Ardmore in Co Waterford, and Ballyholme and Helen's Bay in Co Down. All the nine monitored freshwater bathing places met mandatory standards.
While the Republic meets minimum standards in 96.5 per cent of the 115 beaches sampled (up from 95.7 per cent in 1996), the report records a fall in standards when measured against the Commission's higher yardstick of excellence: "acceptable" if they meet minimum standards and "good" if they meet higher standards.
The percentage of "good" beaches in the Republic fell between 1996 and 1997 from 89.6 per cent to 83.5 per cent. "The Commission hopes this is only a temporary drop and that 1998 will prove to be better," the report says. The Commissioner for the Environment, Ms Ritt Bjeregaard, warned countries with high compliance rates against complacency.
The report also notes the Government's commitment to complete waste water treatment facilities at Ringsend by 2000 for waste usually destined for Howth.
Asked if bathers should avoid beaches which do not meet minimum requirements, a Commission spokesman said there was a "somewhat higher risk of illness" associated with bathing on such beaches. Such illnesses were not life-threatening, probably gastroenteritis-type conditions, but could spoil holidays.
Overall, the report covers 13,129 seaside beaches and 6,177 freshwater zones throughout the EU and notes that, although 90 per cent meet "acceptable" standards and 80 per cent "good" standards, there has been little improvement in coastal sites over the year, while there has been some improvement in inland bathing areas.
The Commission's annual report is produced under the requirements of a 1976 directive on water quality, and its standards accord with those of the separately-run Blue Flags scheme, which also rates beaches on their levels of safety, access and facilities.
The Commissioner has been trying for some time to update the criteria used to monitor water standards in line with latest scientific experience but expressed frustration at the refusal of the Council of Ministers to consider the issue. The new proposed directive will also require better display of standard signposting of beaches for tourists.
Further information can be obtained on the Commission water site at http://europa.eu.int/water/ or on the Irish EPA site http://www.epa.ie
Of the 124 monitored coastal and inland bathing places 16 are rated "acceptable" but not "good". They are:
Co Meath: Laytown/Bettys town; Co Dublin: Balbriggan, Lough shinny, Rush South Beach, Skerries, Malahide, Portmarnock, Dollymount; Co Wicklow: Bray Beach, Clogga Beach; Co Water- ford: Tramore Main Strand; Co Cork: Fountainstown, Garrettstown; Co Donegal: Lady's Bay, Rathmullan; Co Leitrim: Keeldra (inland).
In Northern Ireland, Brown's Bay at Larne and Castlerock at Coleraine also failed to meet the higher standard.
