Pool campaigners meet minister of sport
Members of the Mullingar Pool Action Group met the Minister of Sport Jack Chambers and representatives of Swim Ireland last week to highlight the need for a new swimming pool in the town.
Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner after last Thursday’s meeting in Government Buildings, the chair of the action group, Lisa Corcoran, said that it was “highly productive”.
“We reiterated the urgent need for a new swimming pool in the town. We outlined the lack of parking, the lack of disability access at the current pool and also the fact that there is no shallow pool for babies or small children.
“We told Minister Chambers that Mullingar’s population has more the trebled since the pool was built in 1973 and that within a 20 kilometre radius of the town there are now around 60,000 people living.”
The meeting was also attended virtually by Westmeath County Council chief executive Pat Gallagher and director of services David Jones, as well as a representative for Minister of State Peter Burke.
Although attendees were informed that Westmeath County Council’s appeal against the Department of Sport’s decision not to award funding for the design phase of a new pool and sports complex in Robinstown was unsuccessful, Ms Corcoran says that the meeting was worthwhile as it was the first time that the group had met representatives of Swim Ireland and the department.
A second meeting between members of the action group, Swim Ireland, Westmeath County Council and other stakeholders is set to take place in Mullingar in the coming weeks.
Deputy Robert Troy, who organised the meeting, said that while the council appeal was unsuccessful, over the last decade, elected members have set aside around €3m from the council’s annual budget to go towards a new swimming pool and that some of that funding should now be spent to bring the project to the design and planning phase.
“I think progress was made at the meeting in terms of where we need to go with the next steps. We must acknowledge and credit the elected members of Westmeath County Council who have had the foresight to put in place annual funding and now have €3m accumulated in a fund.
“I think what’s needed now is to utilise some of that money to go to the planning and design stage, to have a public consultation and to engage with the key groups who utilise the swimming pool, such as Mullingar Jets and the sub aqua club. We have to ensure that we get the right model for Mullingar going forward. I think there is a willingness to move forward in this vein.”
Ms Corcoran says Mullingar Pool Action Group is looking forward to the meeting with Swim Ireland and the council. “We are at nothing until we get to the design and planning phase. Until we have planning in place, government funding will not be available.
“Our aim is that Westmeath County Council will work together with Swim Ireland and the Mullingar Pool Action Group to push forward the design and planning phase of this long awaited project.”