Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach for choosing this topic. I thank the Minister of State for being here, although I note from what he said earlier that he would rather not be here delivering responses from other Ministers. I can only assume, therefore, that he will always be here to answer those questions relating to his own Department.

As many Members of this House and of the Dáil will be aware, I am very proud of being from County Kildare. The defence community is hugely important to Kildare and supporting the Defence Forces is a key priority of mine. I have always done what I can from within these Houses to advocate and speak on behalf of our Defence Forces heroes. I have stood up and spoken about many of the different issues that impact on those who work within our Defence Forces, such as the need for cultural transformation, the deplorable pay levels some are supposed to work for, the lack of investment and, of course, the recruitment and retention issues faced by the Defence Forces every day.

Many people I represent and many of those in south Kildare are very happy and honoured to be members of the Defence Forces. Many have found the life quite difficult, however. It is, therefore, important to build morale and deal with the big issues. I genuinely believe that with An Tánaiste, Deputy Micheál Martin, as Minister for Defence and following the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces, we are starting to finally get the big things right. However, sometimes it is the smallest of issues that can grate with people and damage morale in a workplace.

I come from Rathangan and live in Newbridge. The Newbridge area does not have a public swimming pool. At one point, it did have a small open-air pool in Ryston, which is long gone. People have to travel to Athy or Naas to go to a public swimming pool. Those who had a connection with the Curragh Camp, essentially by being a member of a military family, as well as local schools and clubs, had the opportunity to use the Curragh swimming pool. It is an absolutely fabulous pool. I have never had the opportunity to swim in it but I have often seen it. This facility has been there since the early 1900s. The British built it in order that soldiers could cool off during hot summers in the Curragh. In the 1940s, the Irish Army put a roof over it and then brought in a heating system. I understand that the last investment was approximately 20 years ago. Approximately €2 million of taxpayers' money was put into the Curragh swimming pool. It was very difficult to get access to go in but for those who could, it was really important.

Obviously, I understand that during Covid-19, outside access closed down. It has never reopened, however. Basically, the world has moved on since Covid but the Curragh swimming pool has not. I have been contacted by a number of people in this regard. One particular lady is the daughter of a former Army officer, now sadly deceased, and the wife of a current serving member. Having paid for this service, because an amount has to be paid by non-serving members, she still has no clarity in terms of when the swimming pool will open. I have been in contact with the Department of Defence offices in Newbridge. All I keep getting back, as do any of the individuals who have written, is that this is the subject of negotiation with the Minister and the Department of Defence. When will we see a situation when the Curragh swimming pool is going to reopen to those who could use it in the past, such as in pre-Covid times?