An Taisce has awarded 85 beaches and ten marinas around Ireland Blue Flags, according to a statement published on Fáilte Ireland’s website.
Statement By Fáilte Ireland’s Head Of Product Development – Activities
The statement published on FailteIreland.ie included one from its head of product development – activities, Fiona Monaghan, in which she said, “Fáilte Ireland is really pleased to welcome this year’s Blue Flag Awards, and we congratulate the local authorities for achieving the excellent standards required by the Blue Flag criteria. We would also like to commend the Clean Coasts volunteers right across the country, who act as custodians for our beaches, seas, and marine life in Ireland, ensuring that they are managed appropriately and are litter- and pollution-free, for our visitors to enjoy. It is testament to their hard work that 62 beaches have been awarded a Green Coast Award for 2022, and we are proud to continue to support An Taisce’s Clean Coast Programme and the Green Coast Awards.
“The quality of our bathing waters is vital for tourism. Fáilte Ireland’s work developing and promoting water-based recreational activities is a strategic priority, and we very much welcome the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Bathing Water [Quality] in Ireland report for 2021, released earlier this week. The report shows that 78% of bathing sites have excellent water quality, while 97% meet the minimum standard.
“Covid-19 has accelerated people’s increased interest and appreciation for the outdoors, and we are fortunate that Ireland has some of the most natural and unspoilt environments in the world. Our stunning coastline, rivers and lakes are the bedrock upon which Irish tourism has been built, and are now being enjoyed more and more by local communities and visitors.”
Additional Information
Fáilte Ireland partners with An Taisce annually to sponsor the Green Coast Awards and support volunteer-led beach clean-ups each year around Ireland, according to the statement published on FailteIreland.ie, which also noted that the sponsorship also funds a number of environmental awareness and education initiatives nationwide.
The statement published on FailteIreland.ie added that the organisation also significantly invested in developing water-based activity tourism around Ireland, with €19 million being allocated in April of last year, for 20 facility centres for water-based activities, funded under the Platforms for Growth 2 Scheme.
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