It’s claimed an NCT style system is needed to re-designate a number of popular Clare swimming spots with Bathing water status.
It comes amid renewed frustration from councillors and local groups along the North and West Coast.
In January, Clahane, Kilbaha, Lough Bunny, Brews Bridge, Rinevilla and Doolin failed in their efforts to be classed as designated bathing sites following a formal application process to Clare County Council.
The sites in question were deemed not to have met EPA guidelines following a risk assessment.
The decision has been met with fierce criticism from local groups including the Doolin Community Council which claims the report failed to take into account that children swimming there and emergency services often share the slipway for ease of access during the peak summer months due to the dilapidated nature of the ladders.
Bathing area status would strengthen the cause for modern infrastructure, changing facilities and a lifeguard station at the site, which had been operating up to 2014.
Elected representatives are now urgently seeking a remedial action list to get the popular amenity back on track and Lisdoonvarna Fine Gael Councillor Joe Garrihy believes a system akin to an NCT is needed.
You can listen to the full interview below.
A ‘Call to Action’ day last September attracted over 1,000 swimmers to Doolin Pier, while so far petitions have garnered over 6,000 signatures calling for the sites re-designation as a bathing spot.
Lahinch Councillor Liam Grant has been among the most vocal critics of the decision to date and claims a water quality test was never taken at Doolin Pier as part of the scoring process.
The Green Party Representative is calling for this test to be carried out as a matter of urgency, but says that overall there has been a lack of effort from the local authority to resolve the issue.
