Michael Murphy (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)

I will be sharing time with Deputy Mattie McGrath.

I want to speak about a reply I received from Tusla to a parliamentary question I asked of the Minister regarding the future of the swimming pool on the Ferryhouse campus, just outside Clonmel. The reply stated that unfortunately, due to significant mechanical and electrical issues identified, Tusla deemed the pool at the end of its life and unsafe to use. The decision was made in the absence of the full consultant's report, including the magnitude of the costs involved.

I fully understand and recognise the importance of safety. I understand the technical issues raised. However, I must express in the strongest possible terms the devastating impact this closure will have on the people of Clonmel and the wider region.

Until its closure in February this year, the pool served more than 500 children each week, many of whom were learning essential life-saving swimming skills. Among them were children and adults with disabilities, members of the great Dolphin Swimming Club, who depended on this facility for inclusive and therapeutic physical activity in a safe and supportive environment. It was the highlight of their week, and it was taken away from them by the leadership team at Tusla that made that decision. The swimming pool was far more than a recreational amenity. It was a vital community resource that promoted well-being, inclusion and social cohesion. For decades, it has brought children, families and local swimming clubs together in a healthy and positive space. Its loss will be profoundly felt across generations.

In parallel, I ask Tusla to immediately engage with local stakeholders. Transparent and collaborative dialogue is essential if we are to identify a path forward. Moreover, within Tusla's own operations at the Ferryhouse complex, a functioning swimming pool offers considerable value, not just to the community at large but also as a facility that supports the physical and mental well-being of its service users and staff. As a matter of urgency, I urge the Minister of State to intervene and to reconsider this disheartening decision. I am calling for the exploration of all possible options, whether through investment, refurbishment or interim measures that will allow this critical facility that is Ferryhouse swimming pool on the Ferryhouse campus to be brought back into use.

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