Residents issues raised about the future of management at Leisure Centre

THERE are questions and concerns regarding the new Lucan Leisure Campus, with councillors and members of the community seeking clarification about future management of the facility.

Following the recent sudden closure of the Lucan Leisure Centre in August, there are concerns about the new ‘sports and leisure campus’ which is set to combine the €12.9m Lucan Swimming Pool with a new leisure centre.

Lucan Swimming Pool is currently under construction and is expected to be complete in early 2022 after delays due to Covid-19. Separately, the Lucan Leisure Centre has closed for “urgent structural repairs” and refurbishment works said to cost an estimated €400,000.

Speaking to The Echo previously about the works, a spokesperson for South Dublin County Council said: “The centre, once repaired and upgraded, will form part of a Lucan sports and leisure campus together with the new Lucan swimming pool currently under construction and which will be completed in early 2022.”

The topic of management of the new campus was widely discussed by local councillors at a recent area committee meeting – with questions asked by Cllr Liona O’Toole, Cllr Joanna Tuffy, Cllr Paul Gogarty and Cllr Madeleine Johansson as to who will be managing the facility.

Cllr Liona O’Toole asked that a report be given by the council, stating “to ensure early discussions on what is needed by the community and what the council needs to implement to ensure its management in a way that gives viability”.

In their response to the questions asked, the council said that it is “not intended” that the two facilities will be operated directly by the council, rather both facilities will be under combined management to manage, operate and maintain the facilities following an upcoming tender process.

They added: “This tender will highlight the importance of local involvement and access to the facilities and provision will be made to ensure that local sporting and leisure organisations, including leisure centre users at the time of closure, and also Esker Boxing Club, whose longstanding needs for facilities are recognised by the council will be prioritised for use of the new facilities.”