Louth councillor calls for year round testing of water quality at blue flag beaches
Louth County Council November meeting
Cllr Declan Power has asked that Louth County Council consider testing the water quality at its blue flag beaches throughout the year and not just May to September, which is its current practise.
Cllr Power had put the question to the local authority, ahead of the Louth County Council November meeting.
The local authority has indicated however, that it aims to continue its current statutory requirement in relation to blue flag beaches.
Replying to Cllr Power's question, Joe McGuinness, Director of Services, Organisational Development, said:
"All designated bathing in Louth (Templetown, Port, Clogherhead and Seapoint) are tested throughout the bathing season in accordance with Schedule 2 of S.I. No. 79/2008 - Bathing Water Quality Regulations 2008.
"The bathing season is defined in these regulations as the period between 1st June - 15th September. Louth County Council will continue to meet this statutory requirement.
"In Louth there are three blue flag beaches, Templetown, Port and Clogherhead. Blue Flags are awarded for the Blue Flag Season only. In Ireland, this coincides with the Bathing Water Season (1st June - 15th September). All of Louth's Blue Flag beaches reported excellent water quality results for the season, over the past four years."