Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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1352. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the measures he is taking to address the significant shortage of swimming instructors nationally to meet the demand for swimming lessons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42278/25]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland’s first National Swimming Strategy sets out a vision to provide everyone in our country with an opportunity to swim. It 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, addressing challenges in recruiting and retaining swimming instructors, 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 Strategy identified the retention of swimming instructors, with a positive view on career progression, as a pressing concern. This issue was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic whereby the exodus of trained professionals has led to labour shortages and the inability for some providers to be able to resource swimming lessons supported by the required staffing levels. The Strategy seeks to address these staffing issues so that swimming facilities can operate effectively and be resourced to provide effective educational programmes. The Strategy also endeavours to support additional opportunities for young people to access lessons, to ensure optimal use of pool times for lessons and coaching, and to further embed the provision of aquatics and water safety as components of school curriculums.

In support of the Strategy, additional funding of €500,000 was provided to Swim Ireland in 2024 for the deployment of swimming activators to work within local authority areas, focusing on increasing participation amongst under-represented groups and improving coaching supports and facilities. This additional funding will also be provided in 2025 and 2026 – totalling €1.5 million over three years.

Responsibility for the delivery of the Strategy’s Action Plan is shared across Government Departments, State Agencies and other key stakeholders, including local authorities. Sport Ireland recently 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.