408. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the Department, agency, body or authority responsible for the publication of SI 79/2008 - Bathing Water Quality Regulations 2008; the Department, agency, body or authority responsible for updating, amending, extending or abolishing the content of SI 79/2008 - Bathing Water Quality Regulations 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53279/26]

409. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the Department, agency, body or authority responsible for the publication of SI 79/2008 - Bathing Water Quality Regulations 2008; the Department, agency, body or authority responsible for updating, amending, extending or abolishing the content of SI 79/2008 - Bathing Water Quality Regulations 2008 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53280/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 408 and 409 together.

I, as the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage am responsible for the publication of, and any subsequent amendments to, the Bathing Water Quality Regulations 2008 as amended (S.I. No 79/2008).

In the regulations, the local authorities are assigned the responsibility for the designation, management and monitoring of bathing sites. Separately, the Environmental Protection Agency is assigned responsibility for classifying bathing water quality, submitting national bathing water quality data to the European Commission and for ensuring that the local authorities comply with the Bathing Water Quality Regulations.