Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)

This is a most urgent matter. If it is not resolved, the swimming pool and sports complex will close this Friday. We are talking about the loss of 25 jobs and the removal of a vital amenity for the 24 schools which use the complex, including St. Enda's community school on whose grounds it is situated, as well as various community groups and swimming clubs. It would be an absolute betrayal of the communities concerned if the facility were to close.

I call on the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills to take responsibility in this matter. The complex is owned by the Department and is in the grounds of St. Enda's community school. It is directly across the road from the top of O'Malley Park in South Hill, at the heart of southside regeneration efforts. This is a community that has had its share of problems. It would be a travesty to continue talk of building and developing new facilities if, at the same time, an existing facility that is widely used and is at the heart of the community were to be shut down. It is vital that actions are taken to keep it open. The Tánaiste has ultimate responsibility in this regard because it is the Department which owns the premises.

Negotiations are ongoing to seek to safeguard the facility. I commend my colleague, Councillor Joe Leddin, vice chairman of the board of the school, in this regard. There are signals that the regeneration board and Limerick City Council are willing to play a significant part in ensuring the complex stays open. However, the most important player is the Department. It must come up with the funding, which is not a significant amount in the context of the building programme and the Department's overall expenditure. It would be a terrible tragedy if the sports complex were to close because it would mean there would be no facilities for people in the area. When the nearby Roxborough pool was closed the indications were that the savings made would be used to safeguard the future operation of St. Enda's. Limerick City Council is responsible in that regard.

By raising this issue we hope the Tánaiste will assume her responsibility by giving an indication without delay that St. Enda's will be supported. We are absolutely determined that the complex will not close this week and that it will be given a solid foundation for the future, for the benefit of the communities it serves.

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