A new report shows nearly all designated bathing areas in Ireland meet European Union standards.
The report says 97% of designated bathing areas meet the mandatory standards, while 90% of bathing waters meet higher guideline standards - an 8% increase compared to last year.
A total of 131 designated bathing areas, comprising 122 seawater and nine freshwater, were monitored throughout 2010.
Four bathing areas were found to have poor quality status. They are: Dublin's Sutton Burrow Beach, Galway's Clifden Beach, Westmeath's Lilliput bathing area on Lough Ennell and Clare's Ballyalla Lake.
The Environmental Protection Agency says some of the better standards can be attributed to the dry summer of 2010.
The Agency is confident measures taken to implement the Water Framework Directive, including licensing of urban waste water treatment plants, are playing their part in making those improvements.
The EPA report was launched in Wexford this afternoon by Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan.
A full list of the results can be found on a the new EPA Splash website.
