Sir, - Your editorial of June 9th, "Blue Flags Still Flying", questions the decision to award a Blue Flag to Salthill.
Water quality test results are scrutinised for all Blue Flag applicant beaches and Salthill was rigorously inspected against all the criteria before the Irish jury decided to forward it to the European jury for consideration.
While we sympathise with local concern about pollution of Galway Bay, the fact is that test results for Salthill give no grounds for refusing the flag.
An Taisce will continue to monitor all Blue Flag beaches throughout the bathing season and the flag will be removed from any beach which does not meet our very strict criteria. These criteria are publicly displayed at Blue Flag beaches and this year we have introduced a new Water Quality Results Chart which should clearly display up to date water quality data for each beach.
"Call us if there is a problem" is our slogan for the 1997 Blue Flag season. The aim is to maintain the highest possible standards on Irish beaches. To achieve this, people are asked to telephone An Taisce's Blue Flag Manager, Anne Wilkinson, at 01 6705810 or the local authority, with any observations or complaints they may have. - Yours, etc.,
Irish National Blue Flag
Co-Ordinator
An Taisce
Dublin 8.