07/05/2008

Irish Beaches Below Minimum Standard

With the onset of summer, local tourist industry representatives will be shouting 'son of a beach' after four beaches in The Republic failed to meet minimum EU standards.

Faecal streptococci, which comes from human or animal sewage waste was identified in the seas off four beaches, and is thought to have come from sewage works in the areas.

The four beaches that failed to meet the minimum EU standards were Balbriggan in Dublin, Fingal, Clifden and Na Forbacha in Co Galway and Youghal in Co Cork.

Eight more beaches failed to fulfil the minimum requirements, but fell short of the national standards, they include Claycastle and Fountainstown in Cork; Laytown/Bettystown in Meath; Mullaghmore in Sligo; Dunmore East Counsellors Strand in Waterford; Duncannon and Courtown in Wexford; and Spiddal main beach in Galway.

Meanwhile, six local authorities complied fully with the EU standards for all their beaches - Donegal, Dún-Laoghaire-Rathdown, Galway City, Kerry, Mayo and Westmeath.

The Minister for the Environment, John Gormley, expressed disappointment that four beaches failed minimum standards and welcomed efforts by the EPA's enforcement wing to address the problem.

(DW)


Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

05 April 2016
Six Beaches Fail To Meet Minimum EU Standards - EPA
Six Irish beaches have failed to meet minimum EU standards, according to the latest Water Quality Report by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The coastal bathing waters were classified as being of 'Poor' quality.
05 August 2011
New Irish Standard For Carbon Monoxide Alarms
The publication of a new fast-tracked de facto Irish Standard for Carbon Monoxide alarms has been welcomed by Energy Minister Pat Rabbitte. This Standard is the result of urgent work over the past year by a number of gas industry experts under the auspices of the Gas Technical Standards Committee of the National Standards Authority of Ireland.
04 July 2008
Oregon Cop 'Failed To Follow Procedure' Before Killing
While relatives of an Irish man killed by police in the US state of Oregon viewed the body and said he was shot at least seven times, the victim's devastated mother has claimed she was being kept in the dark about her son's death.
21 April 2015
94% Of Irish Waters Meet Tougher EU Standards
Only 6% of Ireland's public bathing waters have failed to pass new stricter water quality standards, introduced by the European Union. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) carries out yearly tests on water identified by local authorities as widely used by the public for bathing.
22 January 2015
Ireland Breached Labour Rights Charter In 10 of 22 Situations - EU Committee
The European Committee of Social Rights has found that Ireland is in breach of the European Social Charter covering labour rights. According to a report by RTÉ, the committee found that Ireland had breached the charter of labour rights in 10 of 22 situations – including working hours, the minimum wage and compensation.