Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive reply, especially on new initiatives and the degree to which the Department is assisting in the development of facilities needed by communities in all areas. I ask about the extent to which the scoring will be influenced by increased populations, particularly with respect to areas that have experienced major increases in population in recent years. I am thinking of my constituency, which is not an unnatural thing to do in this House. I also ask about swimming pools, which are a matter that is, again, relevant in my constituency. I ask the Minister of State to bear this in mind. Since the swimming pool at St. Patrick's College was closed about six years ago, there has been no pool for a huge student and local population.

The last point I will make relates to the impact of Covid and the extent to which it will be possible to address that issue by way of a look back.

See this speech in context