Funding approved for Lucan pool
By Brendan Grehan
THE LONG-AWAITED campaign for a swimming pool for Lucan has come a step closer to fruition with the announcement yesterday from Minister for Justice and local TD, Frances Fitzgerald, that the Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring had approved funding for the pool.
Minister Fitzgerald made the announcement via social media.
She said:”I am thrilled that the Lucan Pool is about to become a reality. The delivery of this pool has been a personal and political goal of mine.”
She added:”I am very pleased that my efforts have resulted in this long-awaited pool becoming a reality. There is a need for quality community amenities for Lucan and not least a swimming pool. In my canvassing on the doors during the recent General Election, I committed to continue my work to ensure that this project would come to a successful conclusion and today I have made good on this promise.”
Minister Fitzgerald said that she would like to thank residents and the Pool4Lucan campaign for all their efforts.
She added: “I would also like to acknowledge the commitment of local Councillors, in particular Cllrs Casserly and Lavelle, who kept the pool to the forefront of the Council’s agenda.
“I want to pay particular tribute to Mr Danny McLoughlin, CEO of South Dublin County Council, for his vision and continuous support during the development of this project.
“He has assured me that given the availability of national funding, that the project will now move speedily forward. I wait in anticipation to see the Council’s plans and greatly look forward to the completion of the project, in a timely manner.”
A spokeswoman for the Department of Tourism, Transport and Sport confirmed the funding to The Echo.
She said: “We can confirm the Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring, has approved the inclusion in the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme of a South Dublin County Council pool project in Lucan.”
The funding is expected to be in the region of €3.8m with the remaining €6m coming from South Dublin County Council.
The pool will be located in Griffeen Valley Park alongside the sports centre.
Since 2014, Pool4Lucan campaign received cross-party support and gathered over 3,500 signatures.
One of the organisers of the Pool4Lucan campaign, Helen Farrell, told The Echo that the announcement was “only brilliant”.
She said: “It is the best news. It is only brilliant. I’m thrilled.
“There have been demands for a swimming pool for as long as I can remember since the early 1980s. It looks like the day has finally arrived. The Department will give €3.8m and SDCC will provide €6m.”
The Pool4Lucan campaign was run by Ms Farrell and Sandra Whelan.
