Swim Ireland and junior minister briefed on Bailieboro pool problems
A local TD has raised the future of the Bailieborough Leisure Centre with the head of Swim Ireland and a junior minister, stressing that government funding is essential to save the local amenity.
The pool is just weeks away from being drained and the plug pulled on the community project, Cavan County Council had been told recently.
The centre, which has been open for over 20 years, has approximately 350 subscribed members from across Cavan, Monaghan and Meath, which pay one, three, six-month, annual or five-year memberships. Up until lockdown, the centre had been a busy and viable operation.
But now the Board of Management have been working to secure the future of the amenity.
Chairing the meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Smyth raised the matter with Swim Ireland Chairperson Peter Conway, in addition to national sporting issues.
“The voluntary board have done trojan work to date on securing the future of the pool. Everyone wants to see this pool reopened and the future of the facility secured," said the Fianna Fáil TD from Bailieborough.
“As well as raising this matter at the Committee with Mr. Conway of Swim Ireland I have also spoken to my party colleague, Minister for Sport Jack Chambers TD. Ultimately, Government intervention by way of funding will be required and this is what I have expressed to my colleagues in Government.
“I have discussed the future of this amenity in Bailieborough with the voluntary committee a number of times and I have also met with them. All funding avenues are being explored to ensure the reopening of this vital amenity in East Cavan. “I have also written to the Chief Executive of Cavan County Council Mr Tommy Ryan in recent weeks to support the committee's proposal to save the pool. I would be hopeful that Cavan County Council will support this facility with funding in the interest of the community.
“There are a number of options being worked on to see the pool reopened. I will continue to work with the pool committee and my colleagues in Government to work towards a successful conclusion,” concluded Deputy Smyth.