There is a very strong lobby group in Wicklow town which has been looking for funding for a swimming pool for a period of time. It is believed in County Wicklow that money is only available for one swimming pool and that the strongest lobbies come from Arklow and Wicklow town. After considerable thought, I believe Wicklow town has a stronger case than Arklow in this contest. I say that without any vested interest because I do not represent either town.
There is a much stronger tradition of swimming in Wicklow town than in Arklow and if a choice has to be made, they have a stronger case. Ideally, there should be swimming pools all along the east coast, in Greystones, Bray, Wicklow town and Arklow. However, it looks as if the Minister has to make a choice between the two towns. I ask the Minister to opt for Wicklow town, partly because of the great tradition of swimming there which is not as strong in Arklow. The evidence is apparent in that the swimming club in Wicklow has 396 members, 26 of whom participated in the Liffey swim in 1995, which is the blue riband of swimming in Ireland. The Wicklow swimmers have to go to Bray, Ringsend or Glenalbyn swimming pools, which are too far away. Arklow already has an outdoor swimming pool, which means it has some sort of facility — although, ideally, it should get a second pool.
There is a vibrant committee in Wicklow which has raised a large amount of money in a very short time. It is indicative of the enthusiasm for a swimming pool in Wicklow town that this committee has managed to raise £117,000 in less than ten months. That is an extraordinary achievement for a town such as Wicklow which has a small population which is not prosperous. They set themselves a target of £200,000, more than half of which has been already achieved. It would be a recognition of that enthusiasm, commitment, desire and appetite for a swimming pool if the Minister granted the necessary sum.
A magnificent site has already been offered to the swimming pool committee by the urban district council beside East Glendalough school. It is perfectly positioned between the four secondary schools in Wicklow town and close to the primary schools. It is near the railway station and would be very accessible to people from other areas. The funds raised have come not just from Wicklow town but from surrounding areas such as Rathnew, Barndarring and Aughrim.
I ask the Minister to bear in mind that Wicklow is a rapidly expanding town where 560 houses are being built at the moment. It is accessible to Dublin and is one of the fastest growing towns in the greater Dublin area, from which many people commute to the city. That should be borne in mind when we realise there is no swimming pool in this town which has a great swimming tradition. There is enormous support for a pool in the town from the Chamber of Commerce and the urban district council, which has offered the site. All the sporting clubs in Wicklow have provided facilities and raised money for this project.
I am aware there are political difficulties for any Minister who has to make a choice. However, I ask the Minister to bear in mind that Arklow already has a swimming pool and has been well treated by this Government. It does not have the tradition of swimming which Wicklow town has. If a choice has to be made, the Minister should bear in mind the commitment of the people of Wicklow town, as evidenced by the £117,000 they have raised, the long tradition of swimming there and the obvious support in the town for this vital recreational facility, and opt for Wicklow town rather than Arklow.
I ask my fellow public representatives to come off the fence on this issue. There has been a tendency for them to pretend that all the towns in Wicklow will be given swimming pools and to ask the Minister to provide one this year and another next year. It is very unlikely that will happen. Public representatives must give leadership on issues such as this and say one town's case is better than the other's.
There has been too much pussyfooting around this. People have said they have equally good cases because they are frightened of offending one town or another. I appeal not just to the Minister, but to public representatives and particularly those who represent Wicklow town, to say it deserves the swimming pool and should get preference over Arklow.
