31 Mr. Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment the steps, if any, he will take to stop the decline in the number of blue flag beaches in Ireland in view of the upward trend in other EU states. [12367/96]

Ireland's record in relation to blue flag awards to beaches compares very favourably with the rest of Europe. Statistics compiled by the Foundation for Environmental Education in Europe —FEEE — which operates the scheme, indicate that 50 per cent of Irish beaches were awarded blue flags in 1996 compared with the European average of only 12 per cent. The next most successful country was Portugal where 34 per cent of beaches obtained blue flags.

The criteria for the award of blue flags are determined by FEEE and relate to water quality, facilities for visitors, beach management, including litter control, and environmental information and display facilities. As far as water quality is concerned, FEEE seeks to emphasise and recognise bathing areas achieving standards of excellence, assessed on the basis of guide values for certain parameters contained in the directive on the quality of bathing water. These values are up to 20 times more stringent than the mandatory standards set in the directive.