ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP Coastwatch has claimed a ministerial restoration order for a protected dune habitat in Co Wexford, degraded by nearly nine years of use for the storage of cattle, is being breached.
The restoration order for Tinnaberna dunes, near Kilmuckridge, was made in January by former minister for the environment John Gormley after complaints by Coastwatch were highlighted by The Irish Times last July.
The order required the damaged area – amounting to some 11 hectares (26 acres) – should be free of visible accumulations of cow dung within three weeks, so it could be replanted with dune vegetation. It was estimated there were 10,000 tonnes of dung on the site.
“The dung removal period is now over . . . but a significant area has not been freed of dung,” Coastwatch said. “Pictures taken . . . show there are acres of the site where dung, contaminated sediment and massive weed cultures remain,” according to national co-ordinator, Karin Dubsky.
“Of most concern from the human health point of view is the land right beside a stream . . . [which] flows into the sea just north of the Kilmuckridge/ Morriscastle bathing water,” she said.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service recently informed Ms Dubsky that ecologist Karen Gaynor, who has been overseeing the work, is “happy” with the progress made so far.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Showing posts with label coastal planning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label coastal planning. Show all posts
Thursday, 31 March 2011
Wednesday, 11 March 2009
Sea could rise 1m by 2100, say scientists
CLIMATE CHANGE: SEA LEVELS are set to rise twice as much as previously expected – by as much as a metre or more before the end of this century, mainly due to accelerated melting of the polar ice caps, according to new scientific research.
Presented at a major international conference hosted by the University of Copenhagen, the projections are well higher than the 18cm-59cm rise envisaged by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 2007.
Research in the past two years shows the loss of ice in Greenland has been accelerating over the past decade. According to Dr Konrad Steffen, Greenland is losing up to 300sq km of ice a year – equivalent to two-thirds of all the glaciers in the Alps.
Dr Steffen, who heads the University of Colorado’s environmental science institute, said a 30 per cent increase in the area that melts along the Danish protectorate’s west coast has been observed since 1979. He attributed this to an average increase of 1.4 degrees Celsius in the summer months and a 3.5-degree rise in temperature during the spring.
“Climate change is enhancing warming in the Arctic region,” he told a press briefing yesterday. As a result, the ice is “melting much faster” and this, in turn, is contributing to a rise in sea levels.
“The upper range of sea level rise by 2100 might be above one metre or more on a global average, with large regional differences depending where the source of ice loss occurs,” he said.
The new research suggests it is increasingly unlikely that the rise in sea level will be much less than 50cm by 2100. Even this relatively optimistic projection – especially combined with surges – would hit low-lying coastal communities worldwide, including in Ireland.
Dr Eric Rignot, professor of earth system science at the University of California and senior research scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, said the reason the IPCC’s 2007 projections were lower was due to “a lot of uncertainty” then about polar ice sheets. “The numerical models used at the time did not have a complete representation of outlet glaciers and their interactions with the ocean. The results gathered in the last two to three years show that these are fundamental aspects that cannot be overlooked,” he said.
Dr John Church, of Australia’s Centre for Climate Research, said “unless we undertake urgent and significant mitigation actions , the climate could cross a threshold during the 21st century committing the world to a sea level rise of metres”. The impacts, he predicted, would be severe.
Approximately 10 per cent of the world’s population – 600 million people – live in low-lying coastal areas, and major flooding that used to happen only once in a hundred years “will be happening several times a year”, he warned.
Dr Jason Lowe, head of the British Met Office’s sea level projection group, said a one-metre increase would be serious enough, but the effects would be devastating if accompanied by storm surges such as the 4.5m surge on the Thames in 1953.
Although such a surge accompanied by a high tide had a “low probability”, it could not be ruled out. Neither could more pessimistic projections that the rise in sea levels by 2010 could be as high as two metres, rather than just one. This has obvious implications for plans to replace the Thames Barrier with a new flood control system to protect London.
A recent study of Dublin Bay that looked at how the city could be protected from rising sea levels proposed a system of “booms” to guard against storm surges.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Presented at a major international conference hosted by the University of Copenhagen, the projections are well higher than the 18cm-59cm rise envisaged by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 2007.
Research in the past two years shows the loss of ice in Greenland has been accelerating over the past decade. According to Dr Konrad Steffen, Greenland is losing up to 300sq km of ice a year – equivalent to two-thirds of all the glaciers in the Alps.
Dr Steffen, who heads the University of Colorado’s environmental science institute, said a 30 per cent increase in the area that melts along the Danish protectorate’s west coast has been observed since 1979. He attributed this to an average increase of 1.4 degrees Celsius in the summer months and a 3.5-degree rise in temperature during the spring.
“Climate change is enhancing warming in the Arctic region,” he told a press briefing yesterday. As a result, the ice is “melting much faster” and this, in turn, is contributing to a rise in sea levels.
“The upper range of sea level rise by 2100 might be above one metre or more on a global average, with large regional differences depending where the source of ice loss occurs,” he said.
The new research suggests it is increasingly unlikely that the rise in sea level will be much less than 50cm by 2100. Even this relatively optimistic projection – especially combined with surges – would hit low-lying coastal communities worldwide, including in Ireland.
Dr Eric Rignot, professor of earth system science at the University of California and senior research scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, said the reason the IPCC’s 2007 projections were lower was due to “a lot of uncertainty” then about polar ice sheets. “The numerical models used at the time did not have a complete representation of outlet glaciers and their interactions with the ocean. The results gathered in the last two to three years show that these are fundamental aspects that cannot be overlooked,” he said.
Dr John Church, of Australia’s Centre for Climate Research, said “unless we undertake urgent and significant mitigation actions , the climate could cross a threshold during the 21st century committing the world to a sea level rise of metres”. The impacts, he predicted, would be severe.
Approximately 10 per cent of the world’s population – 600 million people – live in low-lying coastal areas, and major flooding that used to happen only once in a hundred years “will be happening several times a year”, he warned.
Dr Jason Lowe, head of the British Met Office’s sea level projection group, said a one-metre increase would be serious enough, but the effects would be devastating if accompanied by storm surges such as the 4.5m surge on the Thames in 1953.
Although such a surge accompanied by a high tide had a “low probability”, it could not be ruled out. Neither could more pessimistic projections that the rise in sea levels by 2010 could be as high as two metres, rather than just one. This has obvious implications for plans to replace the Thames Barrier with a new flood control system to protect London.
A recent study of Dublin Bay that looked at how the city could be protected from rising sea levels proposed a system of “booms” to guard against storm surges.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Monday, 22 December 2008
Protests over Cork coastal designation
PROTESTS ARE to be held in Cork this week amid claims that the proposed designation of coastal areas around Castletownbere, Bantry and Schull as scenic landscape areas could lead to the depopulation of the west of the county.
Beara Chamber of Commerce chairman Michael O'Sullivan said the designation would force young homeowners in Beara, Mizen Head and Sheep's Head out of their rural communities and into towns and villages.
"They are trying to turn the Beara Peninsula, Sheep's Head and the Mizen into Jurassic Park . . . It is absolutely disgraceful. They should be encouraging people into the peninsula, not frightening them off. It is for the up-and-coming generation that we are protesting. The proposals would have serious and devastating consequences and would lead to depopulation."
Mr O'Sullivan said the special designation could see children of families in the area unable to get planning permission for houses later on.
The proposed designation of coastal areas around Castletownbere, Bantry and Schull as scenic landscape areas is to be voted on in the next few weeks by members of Cork Country Council.
The proposals were first put forward in August and are among a number of amendments to the Cork County Development Plan.
Some 200 people from west Cork are due to protest outside Cork County Hall today. However, supporters of the proposed measures claim scenic coastal areas have to be protected.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Beara Chamber of Commerce chairman Michael O'Sullivan said the designation would force young homeowners in Beara, Mizen Head and Sheep's Head out of their rural communities and into towns and villages.
"They are trying to turn the Beara Peninsula, Sheep's Head and the Mizen into Jurassic Park . . . It is absolutely disgraceful. They should be encouraging people into the peninsula, not frightening them off. It is for the up-and-coming generation that we are protesting. The proposals would have serious and devastating consequences and would lead to depopulation."
Mr O'Sullivan said the special designation could see children of families in the area unable to get planning permission for houses later on.
The proposed designation of coastal areas around Castletownbere, Bantry and Schull as scenic landscape areas is to be voted on in the next few weeks by members of Cork Country Council.
The proposals were first put forward in August and are among a number of amendments to the Cork County Development Plan.
Some 200 people from west Cork are due to protest outside Cork County Hall today. However, supporters of the proposed measures claim scenic coastal areas have to be protected.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Thursday, 18 December 2008
€30m bill to protect eroding Kerry coast
IT COULD cost more than €30 million to protect Kerry’s most vulnerable stretches of coastline from erosion, a report has estimated.
However, the council has no money to do the work and Government coffers are empty. A mere €3m was available for coastal protection, nationally, last year.
The crisis was graphically highlighted this week when erosion created a new, five-acre island at Rossbeigh, cutting off a large chunk of the sand dune area at a popular blue flag beach just off the Ring of Kerry.
Some people in the area have now offered to provide machinery and labour, free of charge, to prevent further damage.
Rossbeigh-based Fianna Fáil councillor and businessman Michael Cahill, who has warned for many years of severe damage by erosion, said there are fears the entire dunes area would eventually be washed away by the sea.
“’In my grandfather’s time it was said there was an acre of dune in Rossbeigh for every day of the year, but there’s less than one-third of that left,” he said.
Kerry has approximately 12% of the country’s coastline and the second highest amount of ‘soft’ coastline — areas vulnerable to erosion, including sand dunes, glacial cliffs, marine wetlands and estuary zones.
The problem was spectacularly illustrated by a landslide in Dunquin, last year, following which a new one kilometre stretch of roadway had to be built.
In 2003, it was estimated that of Kerry’s 684km of coastline, 378km was soft, with about 41km in need of urgent attention.
The cost of protecting the 41km was then conservatively estimated at €26m, but the figure is well over €30m at this stage, according to the council report released yesterday.
In 2003, a prioritised programme of work needed at 10 vulnerable locations was submitted to the Department of Marines for funding, with an estimated cost of almost €11m.
But, only a fraction of the work regarded as necessary five years ago has since been carried out due to a funds shortage.
In early 2007, however, the council had to proceed with emergency works at Inch, in the interest of public safety.
The works cost €4m, with grant aid of €900,000, coming from the Department of Agriculture and €150,000 from the Department of Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. The Department of Environment allocated €950,000.
However, there is still a €2m shortfall.
“The level of funding provided nationally for coastal protection works is totally inadequate, and this has been highlighted in previous responses to notices of motions by this council,” said a council spokesman.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
However, the council has no money to do the work and Government coffers are empty. A mere €3m was available for coastal protection, nationally, last year.
The crisis was graphically highlighted this week when erosion created a new, five-acre island at Rossbeigh, cutting off a large chunk of the sand dune area at a popular blue flag beach just off the Ring of Kerry.
Some people in the area have now offered to provide machinery and labour, free of charge, to prevent further damage.
Rossbeigh-based Fianna Fáil councillor and businessman Michael Cahill, who has warned for many years of severe damage by erosion, said there are fears the entire dunes area would eventually be washed away by the sea.
“’In my grandfather’s time it was said there was an acre of dune in Rossbeigh for every day of the year, but there’s less than one-third of that left,” he said.
Kerry has approximately 12% of the country’s coastline and the second highest amount of ‘soft’ coastline — areas vulnerable to erosion, including sand dunes, glacial cliffs, marine wetlands and estuary zones.
The problem was spectacularly illustrated by a landslide in Dunquin, last year, following which a new one kilometre stretch of roadway had to be built.
In 2003, it was estimated that of Kerry’s 684km of coastline, 378km was soft, with about 41km in need of urgent attention.
The cost of protecting the 41km was then conservatively estimated at €26m, but the figure is well over €30m at this stage, according to the council report released yesterday.
In 2003, a prioritised programme of work needed at 10 vulnerable locations was submitted to the Department of Marines for funding, with an estimated cost of almost €11m.
But, only a fraction of the work regarded as necessary five years ago has since been carried out due to a funds shortage.
In early 2007, however, the council had to proceed with emergency works at Inch, in the interest of public safety.
The works cost €4m, with grant aid of €900,000, coming from the Department of Agriculture and €150,000 from the Department of Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. The Department of Environment allocated €950,000.
However, there is still a €2m shortfall.
“The level of funding provided nationally for coastal protection works is totally inadequate, and this has been highlighted in previous responses to notices of motions by this council,” said a council spokesman.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
Thursday, 17 July 2008
Minister says taskforce will oversee future of Dublin Bay ports and lands
THE FUTURE of Dublin and Dún Laoghaire ports and the Dublin Bay lands is to be determined by a new taskforce announced by Minister for the Environment John Gormley.
The Dublin Bay Task Force, the creation of which was a commitment secured by the Green Party in the programme for government, has been mandated to deliver a master plan which will be a "sustainable vision" for the future use of the entire bay area, from Howth Head to Dalkey.
The taskforce, which has been given no deadline to develop the plan, is to conduct an analysis of the current uses of the bay and an examination of the potential impact of climate change. It will also make proposals for extension or revision of existing amenity areas and wildlife conservation areas, including the Dublin Bay special protection area (SPA).
It has been given a remit to examine economic activities in the bay, particularly the port industries, "including the scope for expanding, reducing or removing the existing Dublin Port facilities over time".
Dublin City Council, within whose jurisdiction the majority of the bay is located, has already published a draft plan for the future use of the bay. This study recommended that, to achieve the greatest environmental and economic benefits, Dublin Port should be moved outside the city.
Mr Gormley said yesterday that the removal of the port from the city was planned "at some future date", but that the future of the port lands would still be considered by the taskforce.
However, Dublin Port Company is a member of the task force and has already applied to An Bord Pleanála to expand its lands by infilling 21 hectares of the bay. Mr Gormley said the application was a matter for the board to determine and not himself, but he said he had made it clear that he would be expanding the SPA for wild birds to include the area the port company was seeking to acquire.
The task force includes Dublin city councillors; council officials from the city, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and Fingal; representatives of the Dublin Port Company and Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company; representatives of the Departments of the Environment and Transport and the National Parks and Wildlife Service; environmental groups Coast Watch and Dublin Bay Watch; and the Dublin Docklands Development Authority.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The Dublin Bay Task Force, the creation of which was a commitment secured by the Green Party in the programme for government, has been mandated to deliver a master plan which will be a "sustainable vision" for the future use of the entire bay area, from Howth Head to Dalkey.
The taskforce, which has been given no deadline to develop the plan, is to conduct an analysis of the current uses of the bay and an examination of the potential impact of climate change. It will also make proposals for extension or revision of existing amenity areas and wildlife conservation areas, including the Dublin Bay special protection area (SPA).
It has been given a remit to examine economic activities in the bay, particularly the port industries, "including the scope for expanding, reducing or removing the existing Dublin Port facilities over time".
Dublin City Council, within whose jurisdiction the majority of the bay is located, has already published a draft plan for the future use of the bay. This study recommended that, to achieve the greatest environmental and economic benefits, Dublin Port should be moved outside the city.
Mr Gormley said yesterday that the removal of the port from the city was planned "at some future date", but that the future of the port lands would still be considered by the taskforce.
However, Dublin Port Company is a member of the task force and has already applied to An Bord Pleanála to expand its lands by infilling 21 hectares of the bay. Mr Gormley said the application was a matter for the board to determine and not himself, but he said he had made it clear that he would be expanding the SPA for wild birds to include the area the port company was seeking to acquire.
The task force includes Dublin city councillors; council officials from the city, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and Fingal; representatives of the Dublin Port Company and Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company; representatives of the Departments of the Environment and Transport and the National Parks and Wildlife Service; environmental groups Coast Watch and Dublin Bay Watch; and the Dublin Docklands Development Authority.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Tuesday, 26 June 2007
Seabed survey highlights Kerry’s Ice Age history
A MAJOR survey of the Kerry seabed, conducted by a leading research institute, has discovered previously unknown underwater formations off the Dingle Peninsula.
The research vessel Celtic Explorer examined the seabed to the north of the Dingle Peninsula and west of Kerry Head using hi-tech sonar mapping technology and it was working between the Three Sisters by Smerwick Harbour and Brandon Head up until early June.
Initial results have identified a series of previously unknown seafloor features, including an offshore ridge extending in a north westerly direction off the north shore of the Dingle peninsula.
The ridge is five metres high and one kilometre wide with a traceable length of over 10 kilometres. The notable discovery believed to be a glacial feature and possibly a terminal moraine, marks the front of a glacier where rock debris, which was carried along by glacial melt water, was deposited.
The ridge has been dubbed the Slava Ridge after the scientist on the survey who first noted it.
Another prominent feature of the area, according to the researchers, is a 500m to 600m wide trench-like feature, dubbed the Brendan Trench, which orientated east-west and parallel with the shore stretching over 40km. The trench is between 15 and 25m deep and located only 300 to 400m off the coast.
It has been interpreted by the geologists onboard as the seafloor traces of a major geological fault zone. The survey also identified 10 seafloor sediment regions which suggests the presence of a variety of different seafloor ecosystems and the researchers also located six possible wrecks which they are comparing against a list of know wrecks in the area.
This survey was the first such programme since the area was first mapped in the 1800s.
Alan Healy
©The Kingdom
The research vessel Celtic Explorer examined the seabed to the north of the Dingle Peninsula and west of Kerry Head using hi-tech sonar mapping technology and it was working between the Three Sisters by Smerwick Harbour and Brandon Head up until early June.
Initial results have identified a series of previously unknown seafloor features, including an offshore ridge extending in a north westerly direction off the north shore of the Dingle peninsula.
The ridge is five metres high and one kilometre wide with a traceable length of over 10 kilometres. The notable discovery believed to be a glacial feature and possibly a terminal moraine, marks the front of a glacier where rock debris, which was carried along by glacial melt water, was deposited.
The ridge has been dubbed the Slava Ridge after the scientist on the survey who first noted it.
Another prominent feature of the area, according to the researchers, is a 500m to 600m wide trench-like feature, dubbed the Brendan Trench, which orientated east-west and parallel with the shore stretching over 40km. The trench is between 15 and 25m deep and located only 300 to 400m off the coast.
It has been interpreted by the geologists onboard as the seafloor traces of a major geological fault zone. The survey also identified 10 seafloor sediment regions which suggests the presence of a variety of different seafloor ecosystems and the researchers also located six possible wrecks which they are comparing against a list of know wrecks in the area.
This survey was the first such programme since the area was first mapped in the 1800s.
Alan Healy
©The Kingdom
Wednesday, 13 June 2007
Still no facility for caravan owners
UP to 30 caravans are being kept out of a popular blue flag beach in Kerry for the second summer in succession.
Prior to last year’s season, people who had caravans sparked in the back beach area at Rossbeigh were told by the then Kerry county manager Martin Riordan, they had to move out.
The caravan park, which had been in use since the 1960s, was in breach of environmental, planning and water pollution regulations, according to Mr Riordan, who has since taken up duty as county manager in Cork.
The council, which owns the area where the caravans had been parked, promised to come up an alternative site for a caravan park.
Last February, a planning application for another council-owned location near the main beach at Rossbeigh, was submitted to An Bord Pleanála.
However, a decision from An Bord Pleanála is not expected until August.
Caravan owners yesterday expressed disappointment at being left without facilities.
“We made a request to the council to provide us with temporary facilities pending a decision on the planning application. Nothing has been done,” said caravan owner Sean Kelleher.
Irish Examiner
Prior to last year’s season, people who had caravans sparked in the back beach area at Rossbeigh were told by the then Kerry county manager Martin Riordan, they had to move out.
The caravan park, which had been in use since the 1960s, was in breach of environmental, planning and water pollution regulations, according to Mr Riordan, who has since taken up duty as county manager in Cork.
The council, which owns the area where the caravans had been parked, promised to come up an alternative site for a caravan park.
Last February, a planning application for another council-owned location near the main beach at Rossbeigh, was submitted to An Bord Pleanála.
However, a decision from An Bord Pleanála is not expected until August.
Caravan owners yesterday expressed disappointment at being left without facilities.
“We made a request to the council to provide us with temporary facilities pending a decision on the planning application. Nothing has been done,” said caravan owner Sean Kelleher.
Irish Examiner
Monday, 11 June 2007
2007 Coastal Protection Programme
John Browne, Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine & Natural Resources, has announced that he has allocated more than €3.52 million for important coastal protection works around the country in 2007.
Ireland has some of the most scenic coastline in the world - features like the Cliffs of Moher are recognised worldwide and are a major boon for our tourism industry. Not withstanding these most scenic natural phenomena, certain sections of our coastline are constantly under threat from erosion. The coastal protection programme aims to construct works that slow - or even halt - this process in places where the coastline is at its most vulnerable" - said Minister Browne.
"Generous funding has been allocated in 2007 for the initiation of vital new coastal protection works at important locations, such as - Ballinskelligs Castle, Duncannon & Accony and Louisburg. In addition, major coastal protection works will continue at some of the most scenic areas of our coastline at Rosslare Strand, Bundoran & Killiney" - continued the Minister.
"Last year, I initiated a comprehensive strategy review of our coastal protection programme. As worries about the potential effects that climate change could have upon our coastal regions increase, I have decided to accelerate progress on this review.
"Phases 2 & 3 of the review will be completed in 2007, which will determine future priorities in the area and how best to allocate our resources to ensure the preservation of our coastline and achieve the best value for money for taxpayers" - he concluded.
Ireland has some of the most scenic coastline in the world - features like the Cliffs of Moher are recognised worldwide and are a major boon for our tourism industry. Not withstanding these most scenic natural phenomena, certain sections of our coastline are constantly under threat from erosion. The coastal protection programme aims to construct works that slow - or even halt - this process in places where the coastline is at its most vulnerable" - said Minister Browne.
"Generous funding has been allocated in 2007 for the initiation of vital new coastal protection works at important locations, such as - Ballinskelligs Castle, Duncannon & Accony and Louisburg. In addition, major coastal protection works will continue at some of the most scenic areas of our coastline at Rosslare Strand, Bundoran & Killiney" - continued the Minister.
"Last year, I initiated a comprehensive strategy review of our coastal protection programme. As worries about the potential effects that climate change could have upon our coastal regions increase, I have decided to accelerate progress on this review.
"Phases 2 & 3 of the review will be completed in 2007, which will determine future priorities in the area and how best to allocate our resources to ensure the preservation of our coastline and achieve the best value for money for taxpayers" - he concluded.
Friday, 1 June 2007
Four beaches fail EU standards
The European Commission has given most Irish beaches and freshwater bathing sites a clean bill of health in its annual report on the state of Europe's bathing waters.
Just four out of 122 holiday beaches in the Republic did not meet the mandatory European standards of hygiene.
Beaches in Balbriggan and Malahide, both Co Dublin, Clifden in Co Galway and Dunmore East in Co Waterford failed the EU test due to concentrations of pollutants such as sewage.
Seven other coastal beaches met the mandatory hygiene standards set by the EU but failed to meet a higher aspirational "guide" level designed to encourage cleaner bathing water.
These beaches are: Spiddal, Co Galway (main beach), Na Forbacha, Co Galway, Sutton (Burrow beach) Dublin, Loughshinny, Co Dublin, Dollymount strand, Dublin, Ardmore, Co Waterford and Enniscrone, Co Sligo.
According to the report, 96.7 per cent of Irish beaches met the mandatory hygiene level in 2006, a slightly better performance than in 2005 when 95.9 per cent met this requirement.
However, the percentage of beaches reaching the "guide" level fell from 91.8 per cent in 2005 to 91 per cent in 2006.
The nine freshwater bathing sites listed by the Irish authorities for inclusion in the EU report all passed the mandatory hygiene levels.
But two sites, Ballyallia, Co Clare, and Keeldra, Co Leitrim, did not meet the more stringent "guide" levels promoted by the commission.
"The situation is getting better with new waste-water treatment plants being built but there are still problems with new buildings being put up and not enough infrastructure to cater for them," said Lucy Hunt, blue flag manager for An Tasice.
"There needs to be more waste-water treatment plants built close to coastal developments."
Across Europe almost nine out of 10 beaches met the mandatory level of hygiene set by the EU.
Jamie Smyth
© 2007 The Irish Times
Just four out of 122 holiday beaches in the Republic did not meet the mandatory European standards of hygiene.
Beaches in Balbriggan and Malahide, both Co Dublin, Clifden in Co Galway and Dunmore East in Co Waterford failed the EU test due to concentrations of pollutants such as sewage.
Seven other coastal beaches met the mandatory hygiene standards set by the EU but failed to meet a higher aspirational "guide" level designed to encourage cleaner bathing water.
These beaches are: Spiddal, Co Galway (main beach), Na Forbacha, Co Galway, Sutton (Burrow beach) Dublin, Loughshinny, Co Dublin, Dollymount strand, Dublin, Ardmore, Co Waterford and Enniscrone, Co Sligo.
According to the report, 96.7 per cent of Irish beaches met the mandatory hygiene level in 2006, a slightly better performance than in 2005 when 95.9 per cent met this requirement.
However, the percentage of beaches reaching the "guide" level fell from 91.8 per cent in 2005 to 91 per cent in 2006.
The nine freshwater bathing sites listed by the Irish authorities for inclusion in the EU report all passed the mandatory hygiene levels.
But two sites, Ballyallia, Co Clare, and Keeldra, Co Leitrim, did not meet the more stringent "guide" levels promoted by the commission.
"The situation is getting better with new waste-water treatment plants being built but there are still problems with new buildings being put up and not enough infrastructure to cater for them," said Lucy Hunt, blue flag manager for An Tasice.
"There needs to be more waste-water treatment plants built close to coastal developments."
Across Europe almost nine out of 10 beaches met the mandatory level of hygiene set by the EU.
Jamie Smyth
© 2007 The Irish Times
Sunday, 27 May 2007
Fun back on the beach as council lifts by-law bans
SINGING on a beach in Kerry will no longer have the potential for breaking the law - unless it is very out of tune.
And the simple act of barbecuing will not need a permit under new amended beach laws adopted by Kerry County Council.
Two years ago the by-laws which promised to clamp down on anything considered "a nuisance" and which outlawed a range of activities without a permit provoked a storm of protest.
Now, following public consultation, the council has amended the laws governing Kerry's 13 blue flag beaches and dozens of smaller beaches.
Horses are still banned from most fragile dune systems, as are illegal dumping and off-road vehicles, as well as water craft in areas where bathers frequent.
There is a clampdown, too, on unauthorised caravans, and a new beach warden is to take up duty shortly. Rangers and officers from the OPW will have powers to enforce the by-laws along with Gardai and the warden.
Football and regatta and community club barbecues will no longer need a permit from the county council after an amendment.
Cllr Paul O'Donoghue FF has welcomed the more sensible approach being adopted by the council.
He led the protest against the by-laws, describing them as "draconian" and as "the nanny state gone too far".
© Irish Independent
And the simple act of barbecuing will not need a permit under new amended beach laws adopted by Kerry County Council.
Two years ago the by-laws which promised to clamp down on anything considered "a nuisance" and which outlawed a range of activities without a permit provoked a storm of protest.
Now, following public consultation, the council has amended the laws governing Kerry's 13 blue flag beaches and dozens of smaller beaches.
Horses are still banned from most fragile dune systems, as are illegal dumping and off-road vehicles, as well as water craft in areas where bathers frequent.
There is a clampdown, too, on unauthorised caravans, and a new beach warden is to take up duty shortly. Rangers and officers from the OPW will have powers to enforce the by-laws along with Gardai and the warden.
Football and regatta and community club barbecues will no longer need a permit from the county council after an amendment.
Cllr Paul O'Donoghue FF has welcomed the more sensible approach being adopted by the council.
He led the protest against the by-laws, describing them as "draconian" and as "the nanny state gone too far".
© Irish Independent
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