asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware of the urgent need for a fully equipped international standard size swimming pool in the Dún Laoghaire area; and whether he has received any request from the local authority to sanction the necessary moneys for such a pool.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Swimming Pools.
42.
I have received no proposal from Dún Laoghaire Corporation for the building of a pool in this area.
I have, however, received a deputation from the organisers for the Glenalbyn Community Centre in regard to the provision of a swimming pool for the centre. I am considering the points made by the deputation and will communicate with them in due course.
43.
asked the Minister for Local Government whether the swimming pool for Rathmines, Dublin is included in his list; and, if not, why.
44.
asked the Minister for Local Government whether he has any proposal before him in respect of a swimming pool for Finglas, Dublin.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 43 and 44 together.
Apart from the pools recently provided at Crumlin and Townsend Street the other centres at which I am aware that Dublin Corporation propose to provide pools include Finglas. The Rathmines pool is not on my list which in so far as local authority pools are concerned is confined to those pools to which priority is given by the local authorities.
Is there so little history in the Department of Local Government that the Minister does not know the site for this pool was purchased by the Rathmines Urban District Council 50 years ago and is now being used as a car park?
If the Deputy is asking me about the history of swimming pools I can inform him I am very well up on it actually.
Tell us about this one.
At a meeting in February, 1956, the City Council decided that the Rathmines pool would not be proceeded with for the present. I think the Deputy's Government were in power at that time.
The Minister is going too far back.
Question No. 45.
It is a bit much that a site which was bought 50 years ago for a swimming pool and is still available should not be on the Minister's list. The Minister pretends to be interested in swimming pools.
I do not need any comment of the Deputy's that I am pretending to be interested in swimming pools. My actions prove my interest.
A Deputy
Actions speak louder than words.
The Labour Party blocked at every stage efforts to build a swimming pool there. The resolution of 1956 will remind them of this.
Lest the proposed pool at Finglas should meet the same fate as the pool the Deputy talked about, is there any indication when work will commence on the pool in Finglas?
As I have stated, the initiative rests with Dublin Corporation. If they indicate to me the site on which they propose the next pool should be constructed, I shall be only too pleased to consider the matter favourably. If Finglas is suggested I should think it would prove most suitable.
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.
May I ask your permission to raise on the adjournment the subject matter of the first question I ever asked the Minister for External Affairs?
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.