Sinn Féin TD for Waterford, Conor D. McGuinness, has said the ball is now firmly in Waterford City & County Council’s court to advance plans for a public swimming pool in Dungarvan, following a series of engagements with Government on future funding opportunities.
Deputy McGuinness has today written to every elected member of Waterford City & County Council calling on them to support the inclusion of funding for the initial development stages of the project as the Council prepares its next Capital Plan.
Deputy McGuinness said:
“Over the past two years I’ve consistently worked to keep this project on the political agenda. I’ve raised it repeatedly in the Dáil, submitted Parliamentary Questions to both the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport and the Minister of State with responsibility for Sport, and engaged directly with Government on future funding opportunities for a public swimming pool in Dungarvan.
“The responses have been broadly positive. Ministers have reaffirmed their commitment to continued investment through the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund, which has already allocated more than €41 million towards swimming pool and aquatic infrastructure projects. Crucially, they have also confirmed that no application has ever been made for a public swimming pool in Dungarvan.”
Deputy McGuinness said this means the focus must now turn to Waterford City & County Council.
“The Council’s own feasibility study found there is sufficient demand for a public swimming pool, while the proposal has received political backing both at Dungarvan/Lismore District level and through a motion adopted by the full Council in 2024. Dungarvan remains an outlier among towns of its size in Ireland by not having a public swimming pool.
“Councillor Kate O’Mahony and I have worked closely together in advocating for this project because we both recognise the enormous benefit it would bring to Dungarvan and the wider West Waterford area. This has always been a community campaign that reaches well beyond party politics.”
Deputy McGuinness said that, with the Council’s Capital Plan now under consideration, the time had come to begin preparing the project.
“Major infrastructure projects don’t begin when a funding scheme opens. They begin years beforehand through planning, design and project development. If Dungarvan is to be ready when the next round of the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund opens, that preparatory work needs to begin now.
“That is why I have written to every councillor asking them to advocate for the inclusion of funding for the early development stages of this project in the Council’s Capital Plan. This isn’t about committing to the full construction cost today. It’s about ensuring the Council has a well-developed proposal that is ready to compete for national funding when the opportunity arises.”
Deputy McGuinness said he hoped councillors from across the political spectrum would support the proposal.
“Ultimately, the Council executive will have to lead this project, but elected members have an important role in setting a clear expectation that it should now move from aspiration to preparation. I hope councillors from every party and none will support that objective in the weeks ahead.
“I will continue to advocate at national level for a public swimming pool for Dungarvan and West Waterford and to press Government to ensure funding is available. The opportunity will come again. The ball is now firmly in the Council’s court to ensure Dungarvan is ready when it does.
Conor D. McGuinness TD 