Mark Durkan: ...Council noted that DECLG has given its support, in principle, to a DOE proposal to seek INTERREG funding for a cross-border pilot initiative to provide electronic signs that give real-time data on bathing water quality in certain designated bathing areas. The Council also noted the initial engagement between DRD and DECLG to discuss areas in the water sector that offer opportunities for...
Mark Durkan: I thank the Member for that supplementary. I am certainly prepared to do anything, as I said, to improve the standard of beaches and bathing water, not only in south Down but across the North. I am, indeed, aware of the issues regarding water quality to which the Member referred. My Department has been working on the issue. We have been working with many other partners, not least DRD and...
Mark Durkan: ...with Northern Ireland Water to improve sewerage infrastructure across the whole of the Northern Ireland coastline. An estimated £12 million has been allocated for the period 2013-15 to address bathing water areas with infrastructure upgrades planned for Benone, Ballycastle, Ballygally, Millisle, Newcastle and Bangor. In fact, 2013 was the best year ever for bathing water quality in...
Mark Durkan: ...also welcomed the presentation of Blue Flag awards in both jurisdictions but noted that there had been a decrease since the previous year due to the stricter award criteria set out in the revised bathing water directive. Ministers welcomed the continued success of the QUESTOR research partnership in securing European funding for environmental science and technology projects that involve...