Further to the announcement by Government of the July Stimulus package yesterday, Minister Catherine Martin today (24/7/2020) made a further €2.5 million fund available to support the re-opening of swimming pools. Ireland Active made submissions to Government, along with Swim Ireland around additional supports needed for the industry, outlining challenges in reopening, in particular with the high energy costs of maintaining swimming pools whilst closed, and the challenges of re-opening with reduced capacities.
Swimming is the second-highest participation sport among adults in Ireland with almost 300,000 adults swimming each week in the country’s 400 swimming pools and leisure centres.
This investment will help swimming pool operators continue to provide safe and essential service which is vital to sustain swimming and maintain high physical activity levels. Swimming greatly contributes to the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities right across the country.
Sport Ireland will administer the fund which will support the reopening of publicly-accessible swimming pools. We would like to thank Minister Martin and Minister of State Chambers and their officials at the Department of Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sports and Gaeltachtin acknowledging the sector and the importance of swimming to the nation’s health. We look forward to working with Sport Ireland and Swim Ireland on the operation of the scheme in the coming days and will provide more detail to members on how to apply for the funding.
In announcing the funding today Minister Martin said:
- The Jobs Stimulus package has made a further €2.5 million fund available to support the re-opening of swimming pools. Swimming is one of the most popular forms of sport in Ireland across all age groups and abilities, but pools are facing real challenges in reopening, in particular with high energy costs. This welcome fund which Sport Ireland will administer will support reopening of publicly-accessible swimming pools.
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