Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail)
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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.

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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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.

Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail)
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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.

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I again thank the Senator for her contribution on this important matter, which she is very much committed to. I appreciate that this pool is first and foremost a training facility for Defence Forces personnel but it is the firm intention of the Tánaiste that nearby schools be facilitated with access in due course. The Tánaiste has requested a concentrated body of work from the officials in his Department to bring forward proposals to find a pathway to facilitate the pool being made available to nearby schools and the community. As outlined previously in the House, following representations received on the reopening of the pool, the Defence Forces were instructed to undertake an examination of the usage of the Defence Forces training centre swimming pool. That examination identified the need for significant additional resources, including additional staff and minor works, to ensure appropriately child-friendly measures are put in place.

As I said, and very much reiterate to the Senator, it is the intention of the Tánaiste that nearby schools be facilitated with access as soon as possible. He has requested a specific, concentrated body of work from his Department to bring forward proposals to him as Minister of Defence to look at the various options to provide that lifeguard capability within the Defence Forces pool to enable it to be accessible to nearby schools in the community. I will bring back the Senator's specific request and concerns about this to the Tánaiste.

Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael)
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I welcome guests of Deputy John Lahart to the Chamber who are students and teachers from St. Pius X Girls' National School. I am aware a grand-niece of the Deputy is also here. They are very welcome. I hope they enjoy the day and learn a lot. There might be some future politicians in the group. If they have not done so already, I instruct the teachers to give a day off homework today.