Michael Murphy (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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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.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle and her team for allowing both of us to contribute on these Topical Issue matter tonight. I also thank the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach for his latitude. I also appealing to the Minister of State regarding this issue. I have many question about Tusla and its operations. This facility we are talking about has been renowned for half a century and more. The Dolphin Swimming Club and many others have done tremendous work there. The two issues we are bringing to the floor of the Dáil tonight issues concerning people with certain disabilities and from vulnerable backgrounds. If we are to be any good to ourselves and our constituents, then these are the very people we have to look after. They need that support.

I want to see the report Tusla is saying it has. We have been told this is about an electrical problem. A full report, however, is supposed to have been done but it has not been published. It has not been given to anyone. Frankly, I do not actually believe the situation here. It is a contrived issue to try to remove all activities from Ferryhouse and to allow more and more offices for Tusla. It is not acceptable. This is a facility that has looked after deprived children for more than half a century. The Brothers were there first and then the staff, and they did a wonderful job. We need honest answers. Why is Tusla taking over this property? I have other calls to make this property into a special needs education facility for County Tipperary but this is not the topic we are discussing tonight. We are talking about the Dolphin Swimming Club and the jobs and employment. More importantly, this is about the children using the swimming pool - including young adults and everyone - and learning to swim. I brought my own kids there when I was young. We are asking the Minister of State to please intervene.

Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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I thank the Deputies. I can hear that both of them are greatly concerned about what has happened. Regarding the length of time the pool has been out of action, significant mechanical and electrical issues have been identified at the Ferryhouse pool and sports complex. The pool was closed due to a failure of the electrical periodic testing in response to a notification of hazard issued by the electrical contractor on 20 February 2025. On receipt of this information about a significant issue with the pool, it needed to be drained and, unfortunately, will remain closed until further notice.

Turning to the reopening of Ferryhouse swimming pool, Tusla commissioned a mechanical and electrical consultant to carry out further investigations, which saw significant mechanical and electrical issues identified during an assessment. Regrettably, due to these issues, the mechanical and electrical plant serving the pool and sports complex has been deemed to be at end of life and unsafe for continued use. Tusla received an initial cost report at the end of June from the mechanical and electrical consultant, which includes an estimate of the associated costs for mechanical and electrical works only. Tusla has since requested a detailed breakdown and prioritisation of the works required. Tusla fully understands and regrets, as does the Minister, the closure of the facility to members of the public. However, at this point in time and awaiting more details on costs involved, Tusla is not in a position to provide further information regarding the future of the complex. The delay in resolving this matter is primarily due to the complexity of the sports and pool facilities at the Ferryhouse campus. The assessment conducted by the mechanical and electrical consultant required considerable time to complete, followed by the drafting of the preliminary report. Additionally, compiling the full scope of associated costs requires input from various specialist services.

Tusla’s core priorities lie in the delivery of essential services for children and families, including child protection and welfare, educational welfare, psychological services, alternative care, family and community-based supports, and early years services. In this context, significant investment in a public sports complex and pool may not align fully with the organisation’s primary remit. As such, any decisions regarding the future of the facility will need to be carefully considered in light of the more detailed final report and cost analysis.

Tusla is in the process of developing a capital plan to invest in Tusla services on the Ferryhouse campus. This investment will see the campus utilised by various services across Tusla, including, but not limited to, social work services, therapy services, regional services, workforce learning and development and separated children seeking international protection. Those are just some of the services. All these services will benefit the local community.

Moving to the next steps, which I know are what the Deputies are interested in, further discussions with the local authority and the local sports partnerships will now be required on the future operating model and appropriate funding mechanisms given the scale of investment required and the ongoing operating costs associated with the operation of the swimming pool. Tusla welcomes suggestions from local authorities or sports partnerships to work together to find a way forward to the resolution of the closure of the swimming pool. Tusla will continue to engage with all stakeholders to find an appropriate solution for the long-term future of the swimming pool at Ferryhouse.

Michael Murphy (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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I have to ask where the report is. There has been no engagement with local stakeholders. This is the reality of the situation. I fully accept Tusla's core competencies in respect of looking after children, but is there a greater gift to give to a child than the opportunity to learn how to swim? The wonderful thing about most activities in the water is that in many cases mobility issues as a result of a disability are greatly reduced. Exercise is often a challenging topic for an individual with a mental or physical disability. Swimming, though, is not only fun and rewarding but also a great way to keep fit and healthy, and without the challenges that would normally be found with outdoor exercise or in a gym environment. The nearby Clonmel swimming pool is at full capacity. There is a five-year waiting list for swimming lessons. I again urge the Minister of State to intervene, to engage with the facilities manager in Tusla and reconsider this disheartening decision. I am calling for the exploration of all possible options, whether through investment, refurbishment or other interim measures that will allow this critical facility to be brought back into use as it has been for the last 25 years, with 500 children a week, some of them with disabilities, getting lessons.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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I too support my colleague and implore the Minister of State in this regard. I have an issue with Tusla. God forgive me, it cannot even account for the approximately 50 children who have gone missing in State care in recent years. There is a meeting here to discuss this tomorrow as well. Why is Tusla involved in this premises at all? It is a wonderful facility. As I said, we have two wonderful schools in Cashel, Scoil Aonghusa and Scoil Chormaic, with great records of providing special needs education but we need another such school in south Tipperary. Nenagh is getting one and that is badly needed. The area we are talking about is on the border with west Waterford. I think Tusla needs to be removed from this institution. It has not engaged, as Deputy Murphy said, and is not listening. It has no intention of engaging with stakeholders either. I am, therefore, pleading with the Minister of State to intervene and keep this facility. The people providing the lessons are employed and have contracts.

Surely they have some rights as well. Clonmel swimming pool has a five-year waiting list. I thank Rockwell College, which is helping out, but it just cannot function. It is a big town and a big part of Tipperary so this is not acceptable.

Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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All I can say is what I said in response to the Deputies earlier, which is that further discussions will be required on the future operating model. I cannot say more than that. The appropriate funding mechanisms will have to include the local authority and local sports partnerships given the scale of the investment required and, as the Deputies are aware, the ongoing costs of operating a swimming pool.

The Deputies asked about a report. The report received by Tusla, which was from the mechanical and electrical consultant, just includes an initial estimate of the associated costs of the works that are needed. Tusla requires a detailed breakdown and prioritisation of the works that are required. It regrets the need to close the facility to members of the public but awaiting more details of costs, it is not in a position to provide further information regarding the future of the complex. The Minister emphasises that the core priorities of investment for Tusla lie in the delivery of services that are essential to meet Tusla's functions, including child protection and welfare, educational welfare, psychological services, alternative care, family and community-based supports and early years services. In this context, significant investment in a public sports complex and pool may not align fully with the organisation's primary remit and, as such, any decisions regarding the future of the facility will have to be carefully considered in light of the final report and cost analysis. The Minister again stresses that further discussions will be required on the future operating model and appropriate funding mechanism with the local authority and sports partnerships given the scale of the investment required and the ongoing costs associated with the operation of the swimming pool. Tusla welcomes suggestions from the local authority or sports partnerships to work together to find a way forward to resolve the need to close the swimming pool.