Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for being here to take this Commencement matter. Last August, the then Minister of State with special responsibility for sport, Deputy Thomas Byrne, launched the national swimming strategy. This was the first such swimming strategy. Its purpose was to show the determination to make swimming a key focus in respect of giving everybody the opportunity to learn to swim and to be able to swim. Indeed, swimming is a very popular sport and we have seen this through our successes in the Olympic, Paralympic and Special Olympic games. Part of that strategy consisted of opening a process for submissions and almost 6,000 were received. This proved that people wanted everybody to have the opportunity to be able to swim.

Kildare is a growing county, as the Minister of State knows. It is divided into two Dáil constituencies. In the constituency of Kildare South, there is only one public swimming pool and that is based in Athy, which is some distance from Newbridge and Kildare town, where there are growing and developing populations. Prior to Covid-19, local schools and swimming clubs, as well as the families of serving and former members of the Defence Forces, were able to avail of the Curragh swimming pool. This was certainly a great asset and bonus while we await a public swimming pool. We all understand that the rules had to change during Covid, but there has been no sign of the pool reopening since then except to serving members.

I had several meetings with the then Minister for Defence, Deputy Micheál Martin, and it was agreed with the Defence Forces that money would be put into providing more access and into the changing rooms. When that was completed, along with the provision of new lifeguards, the swimming pool was to open to those who had had access prior to Covid. Those works were completed in September 2024, at a cost of almost €300,000. Several competitions have been held and advertisements issued to try to recruit lifeguards, but the Defence Forces have said they are finding it impossible to get them. One swimming club approached the Department of Defence and said it was willing to provide its own lifeguards and insurance.

It is shocking that taxpayers' money was spent to enable people to access what should be a major community asset, as well as one for the Defence Forces, without a result. There must be another way, including even by contracting out the matter. I say this because as it stands, while we have private swimming pools, it basically comes down to whether people can afford to be a member of a private gym or club with a swimming pool or whether they are going to be disenfranchised, as I believe they are being. My plea is to get an update and timeline on this matter. There must be a way for lifeguards to be recruited, with access then given to schools and school children, in particular. Only 28% of school children now are going to regular swimming lessons but it has been suggested that this should increase to 40%. I look forward to the response from the Minister of State.