Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this important matter. I am responding on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, Deputy Harris, who, unfortunately, cannot be present. He has asked me to pass on his apologies to the House.

On his behalf, I welcome the opportunity to respond on this matter and thank Senator O’Loughlin for her question. There is a long-standing policy of the Department and the Defence Forces to allow third-party access to Defence Forces facilities and properties to support local communities and raise the profile of the Defence Forces among the public. This policy extends to a wide number of groups and activities, including local schools, GAA clubs, soccer clubs and numerous community groups. In this regard, the Department issues a large number of annual licence agreements for the use of pitches and facilities.All such requests are subject to approval by the Department and the Defence Forces and signed conditions being returned by applicant organisations, which include the provision of relevant insurance. These include requests from schools and clubs for ongoing use of the swimming pool at the Defence Forces training centre in the Curragh Camp. While the Defence Forces use the swimming pool for their own activities, historically, third-party users, such as the military swimming club, schools in local communities surrounding the Curragh Camp and family members of serving Defence Forces personnel, were also afforded the opportunity to use the pool.

During the Covid pandemic, use of Defence Forces lands and properties by third parties, including the swimming pool in the Defence Forces training centre, was discontinued in accordance with the national restrictions then in place. Since then, most facilities previously used have now been opened up to external users on a licensed basis. In consideration of the reopening of the pool to other users, the Defence Forces undertook a review and assessment of what was required to reopen the facility. Having completed that review and in the context of existing resources and capacities, the pool was reopened for Defence Forces operational requirements only. The review also highlighted that pre the Covid pandemic, it was evident that the level of third-party usage was placing a strain on the Defence Forces in ensuring both the operational availability of the pool and the ability to properly maintain the facility.

Two areas of investment were identified before the pool can be opened in a limited capacity to third-party users, namely, an increase in civilian lifeguards and refurbishment works to the pool, changing facilities and access control. The Senator will be aware from her engagement with the Department on this issue across recent years that a refurbishment project was undertaken in January 2024, which was completed in July 2024. The outstanding issue remains the recruitment of civilian lifeguards, which she very much alluded to in her contribution. Recent recruitment campaigns have so far, unfortunately, proven fruitless. I am informed that two recruitment competitions have been run and no viable applications received. As such, there is currently insufficient lifeguards to facilitate the reopening of the pool to third parties at this time. Department officials are examining some possible workarounds but until a solution can be identified, it is regrettable that the pool must remain closed to third parties.

I assure the Senator that the Tánaiste is committed to ongoing positive engagement with local schools and clubs in allowing the use of military facilities, where possible, and that every effort is being made to progress the reopening of the pool on a limited basis. The Tánaiste has requested his officials to come forward with defined proposals to facilitate what she requested regarding third-party users for communities and local schools in the area.