Fingal Council to apply for two Blue Flags for local beaches

Fingal County Council will apply to An Taisce for a Blue Flag for two beaches in north County Dublin.

The Rush South Beach is applying for its first Blue Flag while Balcarrick Beach in Donabate is looking to restore the Blue Flag it previously held.

The Blue Flag awards originally began in France in the 1980s but is now a worldwide programme that aims to raise environmental awareness and promote sound environmental management of beaches, marinas and inland bathing waters.

According to Independent councillor Cathal Boland, “both of these beaches have a provisional water quality classification of ‘Excellent’ for the 2021 bathing season which, on top of previous years’ results provides the opportunity to submit these applications.

“The most critical of the award criteria, however, relates to bathing water quality, and without satisfying this criterion, a Blue Flag will not be awarded.

“Applicants must also meet a range of criteria including amongst others, education and information provision, environmental management, safety, and ancillary services.”

Boland says that these applications are a good indication of Fingal’s intentions to maintain a high standard of water quality and cleanliness at local beaches

“As an authority we must strive to achieve the status for all beaches in Fingal,” he says.

“The water quality is the major factor in achieving a Blue Flag, but we must find solutions to the factors which negatively impact on our objectives.”

Earlier this year Portmarnock’s Velvet Strand retained its Blue Flag for 2021 while a Green Coast Award went to Rush’s South Beach, which picked up the award for the first time.

A Green Coast Award is given out when a local community group or organisation played a vital role in the protection and retention of a beach’s “natural, unspoilt environment.”

Opposed to the Blue Flag Award, the Green Coast Award is ran by the Department of Heritage.

The 83 Irish beaches and 10 marinas that were awarded flags adhered to specific criteria relating to water quality, information provision, environmental education, safety and site management.

At the time, Fine Gael Senator Regina Doherty said: ‘It’s no surprise to the residents of Portmarnock that their beach has been awarded a Blue Flag but it is an important recognition none the less.

“The award belongs to all those who look after and enjoy their beach, and especially those who leave no trace.”

Fingal’s announcement that it intends to apply for the 2022 Blue Flags comes when elected representatives are in the process of establishing a coastal management committee, which will deal with “ancillary facilities,” says Boland.

“The elected members some months ago agreed to my proposal to establish a new committee to deal with coastal management,” he says.

“I expect that management will present the blueprint of how this committee will operate to the December meeting of the council.

“I believe this will have a very positive effect on the management of this great linear park which we are fortunate to have here in Fingal.”