Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
487. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the plans that the Government has in place to improve swimming pools in County Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42735/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's capital support for new swimming pools or the refurbishment of existing pools was previously provided through the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme [LASPP]. A total of 52 pools has been completed while three swimming pool projects remain in the programme. A number of pools in Kerry benefited from LASPP funding including new facilities in Ballybunion and Killarney.
The Department's capital support for any new swimming pools is now being provided through the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). The National Development Plan provided a capital allocation of at least €100m for the Fund over the period to 2027.
The first call for proposals under the LSSIF closed in 2019 and the first allocations were announced in January 2020. Thus far, approximately €86.4 million has been awarded to 33 different proposals. These initial allocations include funding for 8 swimming pool projects. It should be noted that no LSSIF application was submitted in respect of any swimming pool project in Kerry.
In terms of future public swimming pool provision and access, the National Sports Policy commits to the development of a National Swimming Strategy. As part of this, there will be a review of swimming pool provision to identify where gaps exist and how these can be met. A working group has been established to assist in the development of this strategy and it met for the first time on 19 July 2022. It is expected that this Strategy will consider all potential ways to increase access to swimming facilities. It is hoped to have a strategy drafted later this year and any recommendations contained therein will be fully considered to ensure that as many people as possible have easy and convenient access to swimming facilities in the years ahead.
