Minister Ó Cuív welcomes Blue Flags for Beaches in Galway
Written by Eamon Ó Cuív Tuesday, 15 June 2010
Éamon Ó Cuív T.D. Minister for Social Protection has welcomed the announcement by his colleague John Gormley T.D., Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government that 76 beaches and marinas nationwide will be awarded with a blue flag, including Trá an Dóilín in An Cheathrú Rua, An Trá Mhór in Coill Rua, Indreabhán, Cill Mhuirbhigh on Inis Mór, Silver Strand in Bearna and Salthill.
Blue Flags are awarded to beaches with excellent water quality with facilities for visitors, management of beaches such as safety, litter control, environmental educational facilities and information display.
As well as the awarding of Blue Flags, Green Coast Awards have also been awarded to Salthill, Silver Strand in Bearna. Dogs Bay in Roundstone, East End on Inishboffin and Trá Inis Oírr. The Green Coast Awards are awarded to rural beaches with excellent water quality but which my not be as developed as blue flag beaches.
Speaking on the awarding of the blue flags, Minister Ó Cuív said:
“ I am delighted that the Blue Flags and the Green Coast Awards have been awarded to these beaches in Galway City and County and I hope that even more local people and tourists from other Counties and Countries visit the beaches. Unfortunately, Trá an Spidéil has not been awarded a blue flag this year and I will be stressing the urgent need for a new sewerage scheme for An Spidéal with both Galway County Council and the Department of Environment”.
