Malcolm Byrne
Question:61. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to provide an update on the national swimming strategy. [64151/25]
View answerThursday, 20 November 2025
Questions (61)
Written answers
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, 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 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.
In support of the National Swimming 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.
Funded under the Healthy Ireland Initiative, and administered by Sport Ireland, the Outdoor Swimming Infrastructure Fund recently allocated €330,000 to 17 separate outdoor swimming facilities nationwide. The funding will make these approved swimming locations more accessible by supporting the provision and upgrade of handrails, swim shelters, access ladders, safety notice boards, shower facilities, and beach wheelchairs. Details of these allocations are available on the Government’s website on the following link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-health/press-releases/minister-for-public-health-wellbeing-and-national-drugs-strategy-jennifer-murnane-oconnor-announces-successful-applicants-for-330000-outdoor-swimming-fund/.
My Department continues to provide capital funding support for new and existing swimming pools through the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund and the Community Sports Facilities Fund. I encourage prospective applicants to review the guidelines of both schemes, as part of their preparatory process for future rounds.
Responsibility for the delivery of the National Swimming Strategy’s Action Plan is shared across Government Departments, State Agencies and other key stakeholders, including local authorities. Earlier this year, Sport Ireland 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, which will, I am sure, strengthen and support the sustainable growth and development of swimming in Ireland for years to come.