Response by Galway City Council to Silverstrand Beach public participation - October 2026

Hello all,

Thank you to everyone who made a submission to Galway City Council in relation to Silverstrand Beach, Barna, as part of the 2026 Public Participation process concerning the identification of bathing waters:

https://www.galwaycity.ie/news/2026/public-participation-identification-of-bathing-waters

We understand that a number of submissions have been rejected by Galway City Council’s Parks Department on the basis that they were considered to fall outside the required “format and scope” of the consultation and, consequently, could not be considered as part of the statutory 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.

In particular, where submissions relate directly to the boundaries, safety, management or use of an existing identified bathing water, 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.

We are therefore requesting that anyone who has received such a response from Galway City Council reply to the Council seeking clarification and reconsideration of their submission.

Please feel free to use or adapt the suggested response below.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Galway City Council Parks Department,

I would appreciate clarification as to the basis on which Galway City Council has determined that my submission falls outside the “format and scope” of the 2026 public participation process and, in particular, why the matters raised “cannot be considered” under that process.

In relation to the issue of format, I would be grateful if the Council could identify the specific provision of the Bathing Water Quality Regulations 2008,applicable EPA guidance, or published consultation criteria which permits otherwise relevant public-participation information to be excluded from consideration solely because of the format in which it was submitted.

My submission was provided by detailed email rather than on the form linked on the Galway City Council’s website. That form is headed “ANNEX 1 – Application for identification of a new bathing area” and is clearly structured for the nomination of a new bathing water, requiring information such as an Ordnance Survey reference, evidence of numbers of bathers and supporting information for a proposed new designation.

There is no corresponding section on that form for members of the public wishing to “comment on an existing site”. In those circumstances, I submitted my comments by email in response to the Council’s published public-participation invitation.

The Council’s own notice expressly invites members of the public to “comment on an existing site” and identifies “any safety issues” as a matter that may be considered. My submission relates directly to the existing identified bathing water at Silverstrand Beach and raises specific matters concerning:

1. the precise geographical extent of the identified bathing water;
2. the apparent discrepancy between the maps and signage used to represent that area; 
3. the inclusion within the Designated Bathing Area (DBA) of an approximately 50-metre rocky section which is not accurately represented on the beach signage; and
4. that this area of rocks (not represented on the signs) is covered at high tide and presents a potential safety risk to swimmers and other water users.

I also draw the Council’s attention to Regulation 17 of the Bathing Water Quality Regulations 2008, which requires the local authority to provide opportunities for the public to formulate suggestions, remarks or complaints and to “take due account of any information obtained in the context of public participation”.

I accept that the separate item concerning the provision of a designated watersports launch zone may need to be considered under a different beach-management process. However, that does not, in my view, explain why my submission concerning the identification, geographical extent and safety characteristics of the existing bathing water at Silverstrand should be excluded from consideration under the 2026 public-participation process.

Accordingly, I would ask the Council to reconsider its position in relation to these aspects of my submission. If Galway City Council maintains that these matters still cannot be considered, I would be grateful if you could identify the specific statutory provision or EPA guidance relied upon in reaching that conclusion. 

In the absence of a substantive response addressing this request, or if the Council continues to exclude the submission without identifying an appropriate statutory basis, I intend to refer the matter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for review and clarification.

Sincerely,