*Swimmers at Doolin Pier.
A FRESH bathing water assessment to help Doolin become a designated bathing area, a North Clare representative has maintained.
Cllr Liam Grant (GP) this month tabled proposals before Clare County Council and the West Clare Municipal District seeking another bathing water assessment at Doolin Pier.
He sought clarity on the existing constraints “with achieving bathing water designation” and appealed to the Council “to carry out any work which would help increase the score given in the assessment”. Water quality tests were not completed as part of the last assessment, Cllr Grant stated.
Under the Bathing Waters Directive 2006/7/EC and the Bathing Water Quality Regulations 2008 (SI No 79 of 2008), local authorities are required to identify bathing waters on an annual basis, senior engineer in the Council’s physical development directorate, Cyril Feeney advised.
Section 4(4) of the Regulation states that “A local authority shall take appropriate measures in accordance with Regulation 17 for public participation in the identification of bathing waters” and Section 4(1) states that “A local authority shall, in accordance with this Regulation, on or before 24 March in each year identify all bathing waters in relation to the bathing season in that year and shall notify the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in such form and in such manner as may be specified by the EPA, of the bathing waters so identified including the reason for any change compared to the previous year”.
Feeney outlined that the “process for identifying bathing waters has already been completed for the 2024 bathing season. In addition considering the timescales involved in the advertising and review of submissions it would not be possible to complete a second review” before March 24th.
In 2014 and 2021, the International Life Saving Europe (ISLE) Water Safety Ireland independent Risk Assessment indicated “that the area proposed is not suitable for swimming”. He said the bathing water report could be analysed “to see if works can be carried out which may satisfy the criteria in the EPA Guidance document which would allow for their submission in next year’s review”.
Speaking at the March meeting of the West Clare MD, Cllr Grant expressed his disappointment that no member of the environment section was present at the meeting having been requested to attend and claimed that engaging with them was “like pulling teeth and is farcical at times”. 1000 people have signed a petition asking for another assessment, the Lahinch man said.
Echoing the disappointment with the outcomes of the assessment was Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG) who stressed the importance of finding a solution. “There is a huge groundswell of desire at a local level who use these facilities on a daily basis, what they’re looking for is a formal designation and getting our lifeguards back in a place like Doolin”. He continued, “when you go for a NCT with your car you get a list to go fix it, I’d like the same with Doolin to get a few pointers on what we need to fix”.
Frustration was shared by Cllr Ian Lynch (IND) who voiced his surprise with the results for Doolin.
At this month’s sitting of the County Council, Cllr Grant asked the public participation process in identifying bathing waters across the county be reopened. “With more and more people sea swimming, there is a clear desire for more bathing water locations across the county. Many people were disappointed that several sites were not designated a bathing area, particularly Doolin Pier. The county would benefit greatly if we could get additional bathing areas”.
Supporting this call, Cllr Mary Howard (FG) noted that people were “perplexed as to why it is not passing”. She stated, “Sea swimming has become a huge phenomenon, we’re familiar with Snamhaí Sasta but people are going to Ballyalla and Lough Bunny swimming every morning”.
Praise for Cllr Grant was issued by Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) who said, “I do a bit of sea swimming myself not as much as Cllr Grant but what it does for the soul is powerful”.
Speaking at the Council meeting, Feeney advised that the water safety audit was among the issues at Doolin Pier. “We apply the structure that the EPA have outlined in their guidance document, it gives an overall score and on the basis Doolin Pier didn’t pass the threshold to be a designated bathing area in accordance with what EPA require,” he explained.
Officials are not providing guidance on what needs to change for Doolin to get the designation, Cllr Grant replied. “It doesn’t reach criteria which I accept but as Joe said it is like a NCT, some levels have passed, what does it need to get full marks? The response I got is it considered appropriate, we have not been told what it needs to do”.
