Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 May 2026
655. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport whether his Department has identified areas in Dublin requiring additional public swimming pool capacity as part of future sports and community infrastructure planning; the plans, if any, to support the construction or redevelopment of public swimming pools in Dublin over the coming years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34866/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra656. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the plans his Department has to support the development of new public swimming pools, particularly in areas experiencing limited access to public swimming facilities; the current number and locations of public swimming pools in Dublin, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34867/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 655 and 656 together.
Further to a specific action in the first-ever National Swimming Strategy, published in 2024, and enabled by funding from my Department, Swim Ireland carried out an in-depth analysis of swimming pool provision within Ireland, examining the condition and age of facilities and the provincial and county-level distribution of pools. The resultant Swimming Pool Gap Analysis Report, which was published in December last year, is available on Swim Ireland’s website at the following link: https://swimireland.ie/2025/12/09/swim-ireland-report-a-pool-within-reach-remains-a-distant-reality-amidst-critical-swimming-infrastructure-gaps/. 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.
In this context, my Department operates two capital funding programmes for sport, namely the Community Sport Facilities Fund (CSFF) and the Large-Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). Applications under both programmes are subject to published guidelines and conditions.
LSSIF applications must be made by either a local authority or a National Governing Body of Sport (NGB). To date, €41.4 million has been allocated to 12 swimming pool projects under the LSSIF. The LSSIF is currently closed to applications, and no decisions have yet been made regarding the timing the next round.
Applications for the refurbishment of pools and the purchase of non-personal swimming equipment can be made under the CSFF, the next round of which will open later in 2026. I would encourage all swimming clubs and organisations interested in developing their facilities, and in applying for a CSFF grant, to begin planning now and to ensure applications are fully aligned with the goals and guidelines of the scheme. In total over €1.9 million was allocated to swimming under the 2023 CSFF round and over €5 million has been allocated over the past decade.
The provision of public swimming pools is ultimately a matter for the relevant local authorities and my Department does not maintain a record of the current number or locations of such facilities.
Given the challenges of increased demand and a growing population, I consider that there is real merit in the development of municipally-backed shared multi-use facilities and I encourage National Governing Bodies of sport and local authorities to collaborate in this regard.
