Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I want to speak today about keeping swimming pools open across the country during Covid. I found out this week that Galway County Council is to make a decision this week in regard to the proposed closure of swimming pools in Ballinasloe and Tuam. Why should this matter to all of us? Most local authority swimming pools are operated by private operators. In the case of Ballinasloe, the swimming pool is operated by an Irish-owned, family-run company, which is a fantastic company that operates seven other pools across the country.

Local authorities are under severe pressure and as we approach budget time the choices are being made now. Here again we see the regional-urban divide. In terms of regional councils, Galway County Council is the second lowest funded local authority and it proposes to make a decision in regard to the closure of a swimming pool in Ballinasloe. Why should we care? During Covid mental health and well-being is a priority issue for us. There are over 40 schools that use the pool in Ballinasloe. In Loughrea and Portumna there are no swimming pools. When I was growing up in Ballinasloe it was considered unique in that we had access to a swimming pool. We had the opportunity to swim. An awful lot of people in Ireland of a certain age might not know how to swim because they did not have access to a swimming pool and they did not live on the coast.

The decision of Galway County Council will impact on the communities in rural Ireland. I ask that the Leader when speaking to the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, to raise with them the need for extra funding to keep these facilities open. The opportunity to swim should be available to everyone. We hear of swimming pools being referred to as leisure centres. A swimming pool is not a leisure centre, it is an accessible sporting facility for people of all ages and all abilities. Both Brothers of Charity in the area use the pool. Special needs schools use it. When it opened in June, people from the active retirement group were knocking down the door for access to it.

I am asking the Leader to raise with the Minister and the Minister of State the need for extra funding in this area. It will be our job to make sure that swimming pools remain open during Covid for mental health and well-being. We need them. A swimming pool is not a leisure centre, it is a vital resource.