Sir, – The Taoiseach is becoming quite adept at practising parish-pump politics.
On a recent visit to a coffee shop in Greystones, he pledged to convene a taskforce with all relevant stakeholders, State agencies and the local council to get the Bray to Greystones cliff walk reopened (News, October 30th).
Can we now expect Mr Harris to stop by the defunct Glenalbyn swimming pool in Stillorgan, Co Dublin, and commit the same support to have this essential facility reopened?
I am not so sure.
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The recent sports capital grant allocation demonstrated a shocking lack of support for the provision of swimming facilities throughout the country. No new pools were commissioned. Twenty existing pools and clubs received amounts ranging from €1,800 for the Enniscorthy swimming club to €390,573 for Kilkenny County Council pool enhancement. A total of €230 million was allocated in grants, of which swimming received a derisory 0.9 per cent of the total, which included a €200,000 grant to the Skibbereen Rowing Club.
The GAA, soccer and rugby facilities received a total of €147 million between them.
The needs of our population, from those requiring swimming lessons to those unable to participate in contact sports, are being neglected. – Yours, etc,
CAITRIONA LAWLOR,
Mount Merrion,
Co Dublin.