I join other Senators in offering my sincere condolences on the sad passing of Leinster House usher, Seamus Carroll. I offer condolences to his wider group of family, friends and all of the ushers in the House. I know they are a family among themselves, and it is a huge loss to lose one of their own while still working here.

I raise the call for specific funding for swimming pools. All across our country, particularly in my home county of Mayo, swimming pools have closed for various reasons. They offer a huge public utility, regardless of whether they are privately or publicly operated. To me it should not matter as long as they are open to the public and being used. There should be a funding scheme in place to revive and open swimming pools that are closed. I think of a privately operated pool at a hotel in Belmullet. I know Councillor Gerry Coyle and the community are working hard to create solutions that can make it feasible to reopen that. I think of a purpose-built specialised pool in Swinford for those with disabilities. People of all abilities could use it, but it was designed to be specialised for rehab and for those with a disability. If it were reopened, it could offer a huge amount to those who need it most in terms of rehabilitation. It could give dignity and access to swimming pools to wheelchair users who do not have that access at the moment. To go back to the Belmullet pool, the people of Erris have to drive an hour to get to their nearest indoor or heated swimming pool. A scheme that can help to reopen pools, whether private or public, would be welcomed. There should, at least, be some type of energy grants to support them with retrofitting to make them as energy efficient as possible, and to revive and reopen them to make them accessible to all members of the public. That would be welcome.