Barry Ward (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have raised a number of times in the House the issue of water quality, not just around our coasts and in our rivers but in particular where people swim. During lockdown, many people availed of the opportunity to swim in the sea, rivers and lakes, and they do so sometimes at their peril.They do so sometimes at their peril. I am coming from Dún Laoghaire where Dublin Bay creates its own problems. We have had unfortunate incidents of water pollution in the past. The councils carry out regular water testing but it is not regular enough and the results take too long. For example, a sample was taken on 31 January. We have had a number of samples that show excellent water quality and that is welcome. The next sample will not be taken until next Monday, 14 February. Those results will not be available until the middle or later next week. If the sample on Monday is bad and E. coli or bacteria is found in the water, which cause people concerns about swimming, they will not know until people have been swimming in the water for two or three days. I would like the House to debate what we will do at national level about water quality in our seas, rivers and lakes. Why are we not properly treating the sewage that is coming out of Poolbeg, for example? Is there proper UV treatment to eliminate bacteria as it is flowing out into our seas? Are there other management things that we should be putting in place? People who swim in the sea, rivers or lakes are entitled to expect high quality bathing water. On an island like Ireland, where we claim to be a green country that looks after its environment, we need to secure this and people are entitled to expect nothing less. I would welcome a debate with the relevant Minister to discuss what needs to be done to let people swim with security in our waters.