This article is from page 7 of the 2008-06-10 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 7 JPG
CLARE has distinguished itself once again in the Blue Flag environmental awards scheme.
Blue Flags have been awarded to Cappa Pier, Kilkee, White Stand/ Miltown Malbay, White Strand/ Doonbeg, Fanore and Lahinch as well as Mountshannon and Ballycug- geran on Lough Derg.
The Blue Flag is an international award for beach excellence. It 1s presented to beaches which have ex- cellent water quality, which provide a range of services and which fulfil other specified criteria including en- vironmental management and educa- tion.
Details of the award winners for 2008 were revealed by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, John Gormley on Monday.
This is the 20th year in which the Blue Flag programme has operated in Ireland. Blue Flags were awarded this year to 78 bathing areas and two marinas. This is a decrease of
three from the total of 83 awarded in 2007.
The minister noted that it was “dis- appointing for all when flags were lost especially as a large effort has been put into the Blue Flag programme at all of these locations”.
The losses are due to deterioration
in water quality in some areas, which resulted largely from the heavy rain- fall that we experienced last year. The Blue Flag scheme is operated by the Foundation for Environmen- tal Education (FEE), a non-Govern- mental organisation. The criteria for the award of Blue Flags, which are
determined by FEE, relate to water quality, facilities for visitors, beach management including litter control, environmental information and dis- OE NaB ELON DLAC
FEE operates through national bod- ies who are responsible for the ad- ministration of the Blue Flag scheme in their countries. The scheme in Ire- land is administered by An Taisce. The administering bodies inspect beaches and conduct an initial as- sessment of applications for Flags based on the previous year’s bathing water quality results and compliance with the other criteria of the scheme.
They are assisted in this task by a national jury comprised of members with appropriate qualifications/ex- pertise in environmental, conserva- tion, marine, and consumer interest areas. The recommendations from each national jury are subsequently assessed by FEE’s International jury, which determines actual Blue Flag AMEE OK