Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the large contingent of members of Independent Ireland from Cork North Central to the Gallery. Mallow swimming pool is closing on 1 March for nine months for upgrades. While that is a welcome decision, it causes a big problem for the community in which I live. Mallow is a large town and many people use the pool. It is important to clubs, schools and older people. For example, the Mallow Swans Swimming Club has 225 members aged seven to 19 who use the pool every day. These young people are learning to swim and training for competitions. Some of them hope to compete as Irish Olympians in the future. The problem now is that the nearest swimming pool is 30 km away. We have a nine-month delay. The pools that are available in Cork are taken up with their own clubs in they city. The only other options are hotel pools. If you go to the hotel pools, the cost of running the club will go from €6,500 to €16,000 per month. Will the Government make additional moneys available to Cork County Council to facilitate these clubs before they close down? They will have no other option but to do so.

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