Three of the four beaches which failed to achieve blue flag awards for high standards of environmental purity and management on Thursday, are located in areas which have insufficient sewage treatment.
The blue flags are an internationally recognised symbol that beaches enjoy “excellent” quality bathing water as well as a range of facilities including information on the environment clearly displayed for visitors.
This year just four bathing places and marinas which entered the competition failed to achieve blue-flag status.
Three lost their flag for failure to meet excellent standards of water purity while the fourth, Ross Strand in Co Mayo, lost out due to there being less lifeguard cover than advised, during inspections.
The three which failed water quality tests were Portrane Beach at north county Dublin, Garretstown and Redbarn near Youghal in east Cork. They are all located in or near areas identified by the Environmental Protection Agency as having insufficient wastewater treatment facilities.
Portrane is next to Rush and Loughshinny – two areas which were identified in the Environmental Protection Agency Urban Wastewater Report as providing insufficient treatment.
Similarly, Redbarn and Garretstown are close to Youghal in Co Cork which was also named by the Environmental Protection Agency as having insufficient wastewater treatment.
A spokeswoman for Irish Water said upgrades including a new treatment plant were being carried out to the sewerage network in Youghal. She said Irish Water plans to decommission the existing septic tank at Loughshinny and pump the waste water to the existing Barnageeragh wastewater treatment plant near Skerries. Contracts are expected to be signed later this year for a €7.3 million upgrade to the sewerage network in Rush, close to Portrane beach.
In all, an Taisce awarded 85 International Blue Flag and 56 National Green Coast Awards to Ireland’s beaches and marinas for 2016.
Blue-flag status
At 85 the number of beaches and marinas to receive a blue flag is one less than last year. This is because while four failed, three more were added to the list of blue flag achievers. These were Ballymoney, North Beach in Wexford and Brittas Bay North in Co Wicklow which regained blue-flag status lost last year.
Fenit Marina in Kerry was also been awarded a blue flag this year joining all of the marinas awarded last year which have retained blue flag status for the coming season.
The Green Coast Awards are generally aimed at more rural beaches which may not be designated bathing places with facilities such as toilets. They recognise beaches for their clean environment, excellent water quality and natural beauty.
A total of 56 beaches in Ireland were awarded the Green Coast Award representing a reduction of three awards since 2015. The three were Rocky Bay in Cork, Portrane in Dublin, Mayo's White Strand and Cross in Louisburgh, Co Mayo.
Boatstrand in Waterford was awarded for the Green Coast Award for the first time since 2010, while Red Strand in Cork regained the award due in part to improved water quality.
Speaking at the awards Minister for Local Government Simon Coveney noted Ireland's many pristine beaches and communities making strident efforts to protect and improve the environment.
Ian Diamond of An Taisce paid tribute to local authorities and marina operators for their efforts but he noted that ratings were over four years, so even where a waste water treatment plant was provided, it could take up to four years for low marks to be removed.
