Government wants year-round water quality research for sea swimmers 

An expert group had been regularly meeting to consider how best to protect bathers’ health with 'particular focus' on outside the current June-September period. Picture: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie

Protecting the health of sea swimmers all-year round and reviewing the extent of illnesses they present with at healthcare facilities will be the focus of new research commissioned by the Department of Housing.

It said it wanted to develop its policy around “out-of-season” bathing in Ireland, including analysing water quality and how best to communicate and manage sea swimming during the winter months.