Bill to ensure better water quality for Dublin Bay bathers is proposed

Proposed legislation to establish a statutory Dublin Bay authority aimed at preserving the area and its ecology, has been put forward by Labour TD Ivana Bacik.

The Dublin Bay South TD said the authority would also be tasked with ensuring better water quality for bathers. Ms Bacik introduced the Bill in the Dail on Tuesday afternoon and it will be debated in the New Year. She said Dublin Bay has been a place of refuge for year-round and seasonal swimmers, but that “too often we know that the water is simply not at the standard it should be”. “Water quality is poor, swimming is often prohibited because of pollution concerns and the biodiversity of the Bay is under threat,” she said. “We need to act now to ensure that the environmental protection of Dublin Bay is a priority, not an afterthought.”

Ms Bacik added that the authority would have a very specific mandate, including proposing and promoting policies for the protection and enhancement of the environment of Dublin Bay and of the natural habitats and wildlife in and around the bay. It would also make recommendations to regulate and control pollution in and around Dublin Bay and promote public interest in and respect for Dublin Bay as a public amenity. Membership of the authority would come from elected members of the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly and others with a special expertise or interest in the future protection of Dublin Bay.

“For decades we’ve had to endure the crumbling dereliction of the old Sandymount and Blackrock baths. These were hubs of community activity, hosting swimming contests, water polo matches, and featuring bandstands and music. These are the type of public uses that we need to see back at Dublin Bay,” Ms Bacik said.

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“They are projects, not just for one local authority, but for the whole of Dublin. A new authority with statutory powers could be transformative in improving access, including access for people with a disability, and delivering new recreational facilities for all of Dublin.”