316. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the estimated cost of providing a new public swimming pool to each of the 31 local authorities in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46698/26]

The Programme for Government commits to implementing the 2024 National Swimming Strategy by investing in pools and swimming facilities allowing everyone an opportunity to swim.

The Swimming Pool Gap Analysis Report, which was funded by my department and published by Swim Ireland in December 2025, identified significant deficiencies in Ireland’s aquatic infrastructure and highlighted the need for urgent investment and strategic planning to ensure every Irish person has access to swimming facilities and the life-saving skill of swimming. Many of the gaps in terms of pool condition, supply, energy and sustainability can be addressed via future rounds of the Community Sport Facilities Fund (CSFF) and the Large-Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). I expect to open a new round of the CSFF this summer.

Where opportunities arise, specific and targeted measures in addition to the two funding streams can be considered to lend impetus to delivery of the National Swimming Strategy. In that context, I recently confirmed an additional €3.25 million in support to help progress the long-awaited Galway Regional Aquatic Project, bringing the total LSSIF funding towards this project up to €11,253,415. The proposed allocation will close the remaining funding gap identified by Galway City Council, enabling the project to move toward the construction phase - subject to completion of due diligence, final business case approval and tender documentation.

In terms of estimating a cost for the scenario proposed, such an exercise is not possible without clarity on the size of pools, the design and construction approach and the funding model proposed. However, I can point to the fact that €44.65 million has been allocated to swimming pool and aquatic infrastructure projects under LSSIF to date with allocations ranging in scale from just under €500,000 to €11.2 million.