Swimming at Ballybunion in Co. Kerry, one of the south-west's foremost seaside resorts, has been placed off-limits after high levels of e.coli associated with animal and human faeces, or a combination, showed up on Monday.

Following the re-opening of Seapoint and the Forty Foot yesterday, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council have given Sandycove Beach the all-clear today.

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council have said that the orange water at Sandycove Beach today is a naturally occurring micro-alga.

It seems new action to tackle plastic pollution is announced every week, from the 5p plastic bag charge to governments debating a tax on plastic packaging, writes Elizabeth Kirk.

The Environmental Protection Agency reports on water quality are a regular litmus test on how we treat, or more accurately, mistreat water.

The Environmental Protection Agency has found Irish water quality has deteriorated in the last two years.

Water quality tests in the 2013-2015 period showed 45% of our rivers, and 54% of our lakes, had a “less than good” status.

Three-quarters of Irish bathing spots are rated as excellent, but seven areas —including notable spots such as Youghal and Ardmore —are rated as having poor quality water, according to a report.