I am delighted to announce €8.9m under the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) towards the new Edenderry Pool project. Through close engagement with my Party colleague Catherine Martin, T.D. , Ireland’s Minister for Sport we are delivering this hugely significant and much needed funding package for the north Offaly area.
I am ecstatic and yes, I have been advocating for this funding, and the Minister's support from the outset - don’t let any solo politician tell you this is down to them. This pool, once it is finally delivered, will be due to the commitment of literally hundreds of people – from Offaly County Council, and here I’m thinking of Sharon Kennedy, who first introduced the project to me, and more recently Andrew Murray who has been liaising with me, to Cllr Noel Cribbin and the pool committee and Brenda Hennessy, manager of the original pool which is so badly missed - to the 140 people, families and organisations whose written submissions counted towards the success in achieving the funding announced today.
The LSSIP fund is highly competitive and today’s announcement is a major achievement. But to deliver this project for the community we mustn’t be complacent: Further funding is still needed, planning permission needs to be obtained, and most of all community patience during the construction phase; but I believe it is realistic to expect that a state of the art and fully accessible pool, for everybody, regardless of ability or age or any other characteristic is possible in the next couple of years.
The project for Edenderry includes a competition-standard Swimming Pool facility and Fitness Centre: FINA Standard 6-lane, 25m short course swimming pool, children's pool, and a Hydrotherapy Recovery area with hot and cold baths. Sauna and steam room, strength & conditioning gym.