Galway City Council excludes around 90 public submissions from beach consultation

However, it has confirmed that approximately 90 submissions fell outside the scope of the consultation, including those raising safety concerns and questions about the boundaries of designated bathing areas.

“GCC received approximately 90 submissions that fell outside the scope of the consultation, including queries relating to bathing water boundaries, differences between mapping and signage, site characteristics, and safety concerns,” the Council said in a statement to the Galway City Tribune.

“While an initial response was issued to all respondents, GCC is currently preparing further clarifications on these matters.

“It is anticipated that this additional information will assist in addressing queries that were not directly related to the bathing water consultation process.”

The disclosure comes during an ongoing campaign to reverse restrictions on watersports at Silverstrand Beach in Barna, where a petition has now attracted 2,154 signatures.

The Galway City Watersports Group is questioning the boundaries of the designated bathing area and whether the signs at Silverstrand accurately reflect the shoreline.

In submissions to the Council, campaigners said approximately 50 metres of the 250-metre designated bathing area consists of rocks, which can be submerged at high tide.

However, they say the beach signs show the area as a continuous stretch of sand, with no indication of the rocky section.

The group warned that this presents “a potential safety concern for swimmers and other water users”.

Campaigners also say the designated bathing area shown on the beach signs differs from the official bathing water profile published on beaches.ie.

They want the Council to confirm the exact boundaries, correct any differences between the maps, and review the inclusion of the rocky section within the designated bathing area.

The group also wants a separate 50-metre-wide watersports launch and access zone, arguing that the current swimming boundaries leave no clearly marked area for watersports users to enter the water.

These concerns were raised as part of the Council's public consultation, but the group was informed that the matters fell outside its scope.

The Council has not confirmed how many of the approximately 90 rejected submissions related to Silverstrand.

The Galway City Watersports Group has questioned why people who responded to a public invitation to comment on existing bathing areas could not have their concerns considered under the process.

“This raises significant concerns as to whether relevant submissions from members of the public are being given proper consideration in accordance with the Council’s statutory obligations under the Bathing Water Quality Regulations 2008 and the applicable public-participation requirements,” the group said.

Campaigners have also questioned the online submission form, which they say was designed for people proposing new bathing waters rather than commenting on existing ones.

They say there was no section on the form for people wishing to raise concerns about an existing bathing area, prompting submissions to be sent by email.

“We believe that any decision to exclude such submissions on procedural or formatting grounds should be clearly explained and supported by reference to the relevant statutory provision,” the group said.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has also examined the issues raised by the Silverstrand campaigners.

The EPA supported the Council's position, finding that the matters raised did not fall within the purpose of the annual bathing waters consultation.

It said it was satisfied that Galway City Council had complied with the relevant regulations.

Regarding the controversial signs at Silverstrand, the EPA said they are required under water safety legislation.

They said the map identifies the area covered by the Council's beach risk assessment which is undertaken for water safety purposes.

The EPA has advised Galway City Council to explain the difference in signs relating to water safety regulations and Bathing Water Quality Regulations.

It said this would help improve public information and provide reassurance that concerns raised by the public were being taken into account.

“Following engagement with the EPA, Galway City Council has confirmed that it will provide further clarification,” the agency stated.

Meanwhile, the Galway City Watersports Group continues to call for revised swimming boundaries and a separate watersports access area, arguing that swimmers and watersports users should be able to share Silverstrand safely.

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