Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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312. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he has considered implementing a daily sample testing of the Dublin Bay area bathing waters to ensure the waters are safe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29151/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I am very aware of the recent increase in people swimming in Dublin Bay.  In response, I have tasked the Bathing Water Expert Group with examining the frequency of bathing water monitoring and with developing measures to improve the availability of water quality results.  This will help safeguard people and improve information for everyone, especially people swimming outside of the current 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 Quality in Ireland 2020 report, which was recently published by the Environmental Protection Agency, shows 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.