EPA: Ireland must build climate resilience into the way it manages bathing waters

Ireland's Environmental Protection Agency says record rainfall and storms led to more beach closures in 2023 than in previous years. Picture: Gareth Fuller/PA

The number of pollution incidents causing the closure of beaches in Ireland rose by a third last year, as the environment watchdog warned we must “build climate resilience” into how we manage bathing waters.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said record rainfall last July and storms in April led to more beach closures in 2023 than in previous years, as waste water overflows and runoff from agricultural lands can damage the water quality in an area.