Hydrotherapy pool to open by end of month

A hydrotherapy pool at a local disability service will be “open and in use by the end of this month” after an attendant was recently hired.

Enable Ireland confirmed to The Anglo-Celt last week that “following a number of recruitment campaigns we successfully appointed a pool attendant” in March.

“Once their necessary training is completed, we hope to have the pool open and in use by the end of [April].”

The spokesperson further explained that initially, Enable Ireland will be in a position to offer “open swim sessions” for small groups of children attending their Children’s Disability Network Team.

The HSE and Enable Ireland both operate from the centre, which works with children with disabilities and complex additional needs. The pool facility includes a swimming area, along with dedicated changing rooms and toilets.

Earlier this year the Service Manager for Enable Ireland North East Services confirmed that remedial works at the pool had been completed.

The treatment pool, located at the Hillside Centre in the Rathcorrick area of Cavan Town, had been closed since 2019 due to a lack of funding. The Celt had highlighted the story as families campaigned for the facility's reopening.

Costing in the region of €440,000 to build, it has only been used for six months since it opened four years ago. It was forced to close after the lifeguard left and funding sources dried up.

At the time of its construction the foundations of the hydrotherapy pool were laid with a view to completing it when funding came available. Thousands of euro were raised by local communities and groups to continue construction. Among them, local band The Strypes donated all proceeds from one of their concerts in late 2013, while almost €5,000 was raised in 2012 by the Bruce Ramble walk. Work on the pool was finally completed in late 2018.

The pool remained close also during the subsequent COVID-19 pandemic years, 2020-21.

Issues with funding of late came to light only following a visit by Disabilities Minister Anne Rabbitte to the centre on the Crosskeys Road. Enable Ireland projected an annual cost of €56,585 for the pool. This includes paying a full-time lifeguard and other running costs associated with the pool.

Enable Ireland subsequently submitted a business case to the Department of Health for funding. The Enable Ireland spokesperson told the Celt that once there is a “full complement of staff” in place it is hoped to further extend use of the pool facility.

“We hope to extend the use of the pool further once we have a full complement of staff in our CDNT. We will also be offering the pool for hire to local groups for use outside of hours, for example on the weekends,” said the spokesperson.