MORE THAN €4 million of grants is to be awarded to 19 swimming pools across Ireland to make them accessible to people with disabilities, as well as to fund a ‘green’ initiative to make pools more energy-efficient.

The Minister for State for Tourism & Sport Michael Ring said today that €4.4 million of grants will be used for a “range of purposes depending on the pool, including providing ramps, hoists, widening doorways or new changing facilities”.

He said that, as well as providing improved access and facilities for people with disabilities, the grants would assist in making the pools more energy efficient and reduce their carbon footprint. “Large heating bills are the single biggest cost in running a swimming pool. So by making them more efficient, we are also reducing the burden on taxpayers by cutting back on energy and water requirements,” said Ring.

“It’s particularly welcome that the grants will have a positive effect on employment levels, helping to sustain jobs and in some cases create new ones,” he added.

The pools receiving funding are:

• Galway City Council, Leisureland Salthill
• Drogheda Borough Council, Drogheda Leisure centre
• Cavan County Council, Cavan Regional Sports Centre
• Limerick County Council, Askeaton Pool and Leisure Ltd
• Clare County Council, Shannon Swimming & Leisure Centre
• Arklow Town Council, Arklow Swimming Pool
• Meath County Council, LeisureLink Navan
• Offaly County Council, Tullamore Leisure Centre
• Westmeath County Council, Athlone Regional Sports Centre
• Youghal Town Council, Youghal Leisure Centre
• Donegal County Council, Letterkenny regional Swimming Complex
• DCC, Sean McDermott Street
• DCC, Crumlin Swimming Pool
• DCC, Coolock Swimming Pool
• DLRDCC, Monkstown Leisure Centre
• Galway County Council, Tuam Leisure Centre
• Mayo County Council, Westport Leisure Centre
• Roscommon County Council, Roscommon leisure Centre
• Thurles Town Council, Thurles Leisure Centre