Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We recognised the importance of swimming pools in the July stimulus. Some €2.5 million was announced to support them, to continue their operation throughout the pandemic and to provide increased capacity for such facilities. The programme for Government and the national sports policy refer specifically to the importance of facilities that are run by local authorities. The reason we have the LSSIF can be seen when one looks at this year's funding allocations. Some €4.7 million has been allocated for swimming pools specifically, with a further €4.1 million in 2021 and a projected €3.9 million in 2022. As I have said, that will be subject to review next year with a view to potentially reopening applications. We want to support local authority swimming pools.

As a former member of a local authority, I acknowledge the Deputy's point that there can be disagreement between the executive and elected members. The elected Members here, along with the personnel in the Department, recognise the importance of swimming pools in local communities and the broad participation they ensure for people who want to swim. There is also a safety aspect to this because we want to ensure we have enough people across our country who can swim. To that end, it is important that local communities have access to swimming pools. We are trying to support these projects on an operational basis and to support the provision and allocation of greater capital injection towards swimming pools. We note the Deputy's serious commitment to Carrickmacross. I know that the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, has a particular interest there as well.

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