An Taisce admits 2 Clare beaches have been wrongly stripped of their Blue Flag status – but says the decision cannot be reversed at state level.
Lahinch and Whitestrand Miltown Malbay lost the coveted award due to new rules under a European Union Directive but tests carried out by Clare County Council have shown the criteria are flawed in certain circumstances.
This anomaly means even though the water quality at the two beaches is pristine and meets the necessary standards, they lose out on the Flag this year.
An Taisce Spokesperson Patricia Oliver says its extremely regrettable and can only be altered at EU level
The Environment Minister has expressed concern that two Clare beaches were stripped of their Blue Flag status due to a statistical glitch.
Phil Hogan has admitted the consequences of the flaw in calculating the level of water quality on Clare’s beaches can be serious an will be raising the issue with the European Commission.
