Significant amount of work needed to finish pool

LOCAL councillors visited the site of the still unfinished €13.6 milliom Lucan swimming pool on Friday last, January 26, reports Stephen Farrell.

“The visit included a walk around the building and the overall site,” said Councillor Madeleine Johanssen (People Before Profit).

Although there appears to have been progress with the development, there still appears to be a significant amount of work to be completed.

“Whilst the facility is unquestionably impressive inside, there would appear to be some considerable completion works yet to happen,” said Councillor Derren Ó Brádaigh (SF).

“The principal areas of challenge relate to the moveable floor for the multi-level pool. A delivery of steel for external completion and specialist tiling grout are outstanding. Another critical issue that needs to be resolved is the foul connection and involves the main external utilities provider,” he added.

Cllr Ó Brádaigh was critical of the delays in completing the project. “Whilst I accept that this project has experienced some setbacks amid particular challenges, the sheer overall time involved since construction began simply cannot be excused,” he added.

Construction on the site began in 2019 with various dates of completion being muted along the way including May 2022 and last October.

Cllr Johanssen was similarly non-plussed. “It really shouldn’t have taken this long to get here, and we still don’t have a date for the opening of the pool,” she said.

The Council, who have described the delays as “embarrassing”, said in October last year, that it is their intention to pursue “appropriate remedies available under the building contract for any unjustified delays over and above the previously submitted programme.”

On Friday last Councillors sought a revised date of completion but to no avail. “Despite much anticipation about a revised timeline this morning, we could not elicit a revised date. We were however told that a date will be offered in three weeks’ time,” Cllr Ó Brádaigh said.

However, it does appear that the Council and Councillors will be kept informed of developments to the project.

“We were also informed that weekly progress meetings are in place involving the Council, the contractor and the new facilities operator. A meeting for councillors has also been arranged with Aura Leisure in the Council Chamber on Tuesday February 20,” said Cllr Ó Brádaigh.

The long-awaited project has been adversely affected by delays over a considerable length of time. “[It]has been marred by delays caused by a number of issues, including supply chain problems, connection to utilities and labour shortages. The project … has been highly anticipated by the local community who have been campaigning for decades for a public swimming pool in Lucan,” said Cllr Johanssen.

In 2019 SDCC said that the development would be funded by a grant of €3.8 million from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and that SDCC would also contribute €9.8 million to the capital cost.

The facility, when completed, is hoped will be a significant resource for the community. “The main pool is 25 metres …. The main ‘weights/gym’ area is a large area, and the facility includes sauna, steam rooms, extensive changing room space and poolside showers,” he added.

“The quality and standards seem to be very high,” Cllr Johanssen added.