Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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359. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the actions he is taking in response to the finding in the EPA Bathing Water Quality in Ireland 2020 report that after any heavy rainfall event it is best to avoid recreational water activities at your beach or bathing area for at least 48 hours, as rainfall events wash pollution into waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26539/21]

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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360. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the details of his engagement to date to support and promote efforts at the local government level to improve the quality of bathing waters, especially those areas classified as poor or sufficient in the EPA Bathing Water Quality in Ireland 2020 report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26540/21]

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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361. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the details of his engagement to date with the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications concerning supporting and promoting efforts at the local government level to improve the quality of bathing waters, especially those areas classified as poor or sufficient in the EPA Bathing Water Quality in Ireland 2020 report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26893/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 359 to 361, inclusive, together.

I welcome the recent publication of the EPA’s Bathing Water Quality in Ireland 2020 report, and I am pleased to see the continued improvements in the quality of our bathing waters highlighted in the report, especially those bathing waters that are meeting or exceeding the minimum water quality requirements.  It is important to note that 96% of bathing waters met or exceeded the minimum required standard. This is up from 95% in 2019 and improvements in bathing water quality are welcome and necessary. 

Currently in Ireland there are almost 150 designated bathing waters identified by local authorities with the help of public consultation.  Excellent work is being carried out by local authorities and other stakeholders on the continued improvements in our bathing water quality.  For both local and national tourism, it is important that the network of bathing waters is strengthened and enhanced.  For this reason I am particularly delighted to see two new bathing waters in Carrigaholt and Quilty identified in 2020. Credit must go to Clare County Council for their work in making this happen. It should be noted that responsibility for protecting and improving our waters rests with my Department rather than the Department of the Environment, Climate Action and Communications.

The reduction in poor bathing waters from 5 to 4 is also welcomed but it is clear that work must continue. Local authorities and Irish Water are working closely together to ensure issues at these 4 poor bathing waters are remedied as soon as possible.

These issues are often complex and require input from a variety of stakeholders to resolve, however recent successes at Ballyloughane and Portrane Beaches have demonstrated that once issues are identified and resolved, bathing water quality can improve rapidly.

The continued poor status at Clifden is disappointing. However, Galway County Council has identified a new bathing area at nearby Aillebrack/Silverhill Beach and it will continue to work to ensure that Clifden can be reclassified as a bathing water.

I would encourage all bathers to use the information on the dedicated www.beaches.ie website before going swimming, and to always follow the advice of the HSE and Department of Health in relation to social distancing protocols when you are at the beach. Following periods of heavy and sustained rainfall, specific and temporary bathing prohibition notices are issued where necessary, and as a precautionary measure for beaches, to protect people’s health pending water test results.

In regards to improving the standards of waste water discharge into the environment, our waste water networks require ongoing and sustained investment and the Government has approved the Irish Water Strategic Funding Plan 2019-2024 comprising of a €6.1bn investment in infrastructure and assets and €4.9bn in operating costs.

Last year the Dublin Task Force was created including representatives of my Department, Dublin City Council, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and Irish Water to work together to diagnose the root-causes and put in place programmes to solve issues specific to Dublin Bay. 

I am also very aware of the recent increase in people swimming outdoors, and the increase of beach users generally, outside of the traditional bathing season so I have tasked the Bathing Water Expert Group with examining potential increases to the frequency of bathing water monitoring and improving the availability of results to improve information for people swimming outside of the designated bathing season.  I have also requested that the Expert Group consider the issues related to changing the bathing water season, taking into account the current review by the European Commission of the Bathing Water Directive.

Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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362. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his Department will take steps to begin systemically testing the bathing waters of Dublin Bay at ten different locations daily for the next 24 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27231/21]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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363. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if year round and more frequent testing of coastal bathing waters will be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27304/21]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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388. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if a commitment will be given to the systematic testing of the waters of Dublin Bay at a minimum of ten locations throughout 356 days of the year (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26063/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 362, 363 and 388 together.

I am very aware of the recent increase in people swimming, and the increase of beach users generally, outside of the traditional bathing season in Dublin Bay (and in many other areas).

I have tasked the Bathing Water Expert Group with examining potential increases to the frequency of bathing water monitoring and improving the dissemination of results to improve information for people swimming outside of the designated bathing season.  I have also requested that the Expert Group consider the issues related to changing the bathing water season, taking into account the current review by the European Commission of the Bathing Water Directive.

The bathing water report for 2020, which was recently published by the Environmental Protection Agency, 96% of bathing waters met or exceeded the minimum required standard. This is up from 95% in 2019 and improvements in bathing water quality are welcome and necessary.