1517. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if his Department has undertaken an assessment of swimming pool capacity in County Cork; the identified deficits in provision; the plans to support the development of new and refurbishment of public swimming facilities in Cork north-west; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57029/26]

Ireland’s first National Swimming Strategy sets out a vision to provide everyone in our country with an opportunity to swim. It includes an Action Plan containing over fifty actions across five thematic strands, focusing on providing improved facilities, increasing access for people with disabilities, improving the culture of inclusion, better coaching supports, increasing safety awareness and providing a pathway that allows for the nurturing and development of potential high performers.

Further to a specific action in the Strategy, and enabled with funding from this Department, Swim Ireland carried out an in-depth analysis of swimming pool provision within Ireland, examining the condition and age of facilities, community accessibility, the availability of swimming lessons, energy and sustainability practices, and the provincial and county-level distribution of pools. The resultant Swimming Pool Gap Analysis Report is available on Swim Ireland’s website at the following link: https://swimireland.ie/2025/12/09/swim-ireland-report-a-pool-within-reach-remains-a-distant-reality-amidst-critical-swimming-infrastructure-gaps/.

The report is being examined by my Department and will be a key input to the future development of swimming pool facilities by enabling enhanced decision-making with regard to targeting investment more effectively.

Over a quarter of a billion euro was allocated to 3,048 community sports clubs and facilities in 2024 from the 2023 round of the Community Sport Facilities Fund (CSFF), representing the largest-ever investment in sports facilities in communities across Ireland. Details of these allocations are available on the Department's website https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/3f9fa-community-sport-facilities-funding/. In line with previous rounds of the Fund, a review of the current funding round is being undertaken. I have asked my Department to prepare for a further round of the CSFF in 2026. It is anticipated that the next round will particularly target areas and sports that have been under-invested in over the years.

In 2024, the second round of the Large-Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) received an unprecedented demand for funding. Grants totaling €173 million were awarded to 35 projects. Details of these allocations are available on the Department's website www.gov.ie/en/service/6f3f3-large-scale-sport-infrastructure-fund-lssif-2024/#lssif-allocations.

With regard to a future round of the LSSIF, I am committed to ensuring sustained investment in sports facilities to meet our ambitious goals for sports participation nationwide. The Programme for Government commits to maintaining sports funding to get more people participating in all levels of sport, particularly targeting cohorts in society where there are lower than average participation levels.

My current focus is on ensuring project delivery under the first two rounds of the LSSIF, 2018 and 2024, and this process will inform any decisions regarding the timing of a future round.