Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)

The current swimming pool programme closed in 2000. I acknowledge the lengthy lead in time for swimming pool projects but there has been an inequitable distribution of projects nationally. For example, two swimming pools were funded in Tralee while there is a major deficiency in my area. The towns of Leixlip, Celbridge, Maynooth and Kilcock have the same population as Waterford city but they have no swimming pool and they have been treated inequitably. Is it intended to reopen the programme? I realise the State is in a precarious financial position and the programme is not a high priority, but the lack of a swimming pool is a major deficiency in communities. The Minister of State has referred to encouraging people to participate in sports and swimming appeals across the age spectrum. Does he foresee the programme being re-opened even on a limited basis to fill obvious gaps?

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