Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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162. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason for the underspend of €3.2 million in respect of swimming pool grants to local authorities; if there have been similar underspends in 2024 and 20025; the way in which his Department intends to fund and support municipal swimming pool construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34914/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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Previously, Government support for new swimming pools or the refurbishment of existing pools was provided through the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme (LASPP). 52 pools have been completed under the LASPP with a Lucan project currently under construction. The pool underspend relates to slower than anticipated progress on this project, but I understand that the local authority is expecting that the works will be completed shortly.

My Department's capital support for any new swimming pool projects is now provided through the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). The aim of the LSSIF is to provide Exchequer support for larger sports facility projects, including swimming pools. These are projects where the Exchequer investment would be greater than the maximum amount available under the Community Sport Facilities Fund (CSFF). In some cases, these may be projects where the primary objective will be to increase active participation in sport. In other cases, these may be large scale venues/stadia where the focus is more related to social participation and high-performance sport. The total investment in the LSSIF currently stands at €297 million, of which €28.9m was allocated to 9 swimming pools as set out below.

1. Laois: Portarlington Leisure Centre Swimming Pool
2. Sligo: Waterpoint Aqua Park
3. Kilkenny: The Watershed Development,
4. Limerick: Askeaton Pool and Leisure
5. Wicklow: Wicklow Swimming Pool and Leisure Centre
6. Louth: Dundalk Leisure Centre
7. Galway: Galway Regional Aquatic & Fitness Centre
8. Dublin: Samuel Beckett Civic Campus Phase 2
9. Edenderry Swimming Pool

Joe Neville (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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163. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when his Department will begin to implement the new national swimming strategy by investing in pools and swimming facilities allowing everyone an opportunity to swim, as outlined in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34970/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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Ireland’s first National Swimming Strategy was published in August 2024 and includes an Action Plan containing over 50 actions across five thematic strands, focusing on providing improved facilities, increasing access for people with disabilities, improving the culture of inclusion, better coaching supports, increasing safety awareness and providing a pathway that allows for the nurturing and development of potential high performers.

The public consultation that informed the development of the National Swimming Strategy suggested that existing swimming pool stock is insufficient and, as a result, a key focus of the Strategy is on providing improved facilities. There is a specific action in the strategy to complete an in-depth analysis of swimming pool provision within Ireland with particular reference to identifying gaps in provision. Swim Ireland, the National Governing Body for swimming, is currently undertaking an analysis of the type and nature of swimming pool ownership in the country and will publish a report in this regard in the coming period. This report will be central to the future development of swimming pool facilities.

Responsibility for the delivery of the Strategy’s Action Plan will be shared across Government Departments, State Agencies and other key stakeholders, including local authorities. Sport Ireland has established an oversight group of key stakeholders to give leadership, policy direction, prioritisation and mobilisation of resources to support, monitor and measure the Strategy’s implementation.

Capital support for new swimming pools, and the refurbishment of existing pools, continues to be provided by my Department through the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund, which to date has allocated €28.9 million to 9 swimming pool projects. While my current focus is on ensuring project delivery under the first two rounds of the LSSIF, 2018 and 2024, I would expect that the period of time to a future LSSIF round will be less than the period of time between the first and second rounds.