Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his response, which I am disappointed with because I hoped for some new information. I raised this issue previously as a Commencement matter and, as outlined in the response, I have been in contact with Department officials on a regular basis. When we have such a good community asset in an area where there is no public swimming pool, it is regrettable and completely wrong that schools and other swim clubs cannot use this pool due to a situation where no lifeguards are there. I cannot understand why private swimming pools are able to recruit lifeguards. I have seen that and asked about it in private swimming pools around County Kildare. Those pools are able to recruit so I cannot understand how that is an issue. Even in the interim, if a swim club has its own lifeguards and insurance, it should be given access. I would appreciate it if the Minister of State would bring that back to the Tánaiste and the Department.