Cork's local authorities promised financial backing if site identified for 50m swimming pool
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The sports minister has urged Cork's two local authorities to find a site for a 50m swimming pool, saying that the government will assist with the costs.
Dolphin Swimming Club in Mayfield has purchased an Olympic-sized pool worth €1.1m at a discounted rate which is currently in storage because the club has nowhere to put it.
A total of €100,000 will be required for the planning stages with millions more needed for the pool's construction.
Speaking in Dublin on Thursday as the Government launched a €500,000 investment in staff who will promote participation in swimming, junior sports minister Thomas Byrne said that if either council were to find land for a building, the Government would assist with running and, he indicated, capital costs.
Mr Byrne said that he would "strongly encourage" the county's local authorities to find a site and said that a building "doesn't have to be too fancy".
"We have a 50 metre pool here (in Dublin). We have one in Limerick. We do need one in Cork. And I'd encourage the local authorities to come forward with proposals if they can find a site to put this or a building to put this in. It doesn't have to be too fancy, that's the one thing we've learned from the Paris Olympics.
"We're more than willing to work with Cork County Council, Cork City Council, whoever it may be, if they can find a site and encourage them to do that."
He said that if either council comes up with a capital proposal, he will "absolutely" discuss it with them.
The idea of more Olympic-sized pools was endorsed at the same event by Olympic champion Daniel Wiffen. He said that he wants to see the Government's strategy deliver "more young people swimming, more 50m pools".