Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 May 2026
42. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the steps that Monaghan County Council should take to secure funding for a swimming pool in Carrickmacross; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33095/26]
View answer59. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport when the next round of the Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund will open; and if projects such as a public swimming pool for Dún Garbhán in Port Láirge will be considered when the fund opens again. [33097/26]
View answer62. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the measures being taken by his Department to encourage the establishment of public swimming pools in areas where no such facilities currently exist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32980/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 42, 59 and 62 together.
My Department operates two capital funding programmes for sport, namely the Community Sport Facilities Fund (CSFF) and the Large-Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). Capital support for new swimming pools, and the refurbishment of existing pools, is provided by my Department through the LSSIF which, to date, has allocated €41.4 million to swimming pool and aquatic infrastructure projects. Details of allocations under the LSSIF are available on my Department’s website. No applications have been received for Carrickmacross or Dún Garbhán swimming pools.
The LSSIF is aimed primarily at National Governing Bodies (NGBs) and local authorities. Other bodies can also benefit, but applications have to be made and prioritised by a local authority and/or a NGB. The full marking scheme, guidelines and assessment process for LSSIF 2018 and 2024 are published on my Department’s website. I would encourage any prospective applicants to review these documents in preparation for a future LSSIF round, while noting that guidelines and conditions for a future round may differ from those previously published.
The LSSIF is currently closed to applications. My current focus is on ensuring project delivery under the first two rounds of the LSSIF. This process will inform any decisions regarding the timing of a future round, but I am committed to ensuring sustained investment in sports facilities to meet our ambitious goals for sports participation nationwide.
Ireland’s first National Swimming Strategy was published in 2024 and sets out a vision to provide everyone in our country with an opportunity to swim. It includes an Action Plan containing over fifty 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.
Further to a specific action in the Strategy, Swim Ireland carried out an in-depth analysis of swimming pool provision within Ireland, with particular reference to identifying gaps in provision. The resultant Swimming Pool Gap Analysis Report was finalised in late 2025 and is available on Swim Ireland’s website. The report is being examined by my Department and will be a key input to the future development of swimming pool facilities by enabling enhanced decision-making with regard to targeting investment more effectively.
