Blue Flags not flying full time at some Mayo beaches

BLUE Flags weren't flying at all times at some Mayo beaches over the summer months.

Where beaches have lifeguards assigned, the flags don't fly if they are not on duty, local councillors in the Westport-Belmullet Municipal District have been told.

However, on other beaches where no lifeguards have been appointed, the Blue Flags were up all of the time.

Achill boasts five Blue Flags, with one down the road in nearby Mulranny too, and local Councillor Paul McNamara questioned why some were flown part-time while others were up all the time.

One flag only flew for 20% of the time in August, he stated.

He was told there is An Taisce criteria.

If a beach has lifeguards, the flag can't fly if they are not present, and there were some resource issues in providing lifeguards over the summer months.

Where the council don't commit to having lifeguards on a beach, the flags can be flown at all times.

Councillor McNamara asked why they were bending to An Taisce. It was an insult to the communities that spend 365 days a year picking up rubbish from the beaches, he said.

They had restricted dog walking to keep the flags and now An Taisce were telling them when they can and cannot fly their flags.

Next season he would not be standing for flags going up and coming down, he told council management.