A grant on offer to publicly accessibly swimming pools has faced long delays, according to Cllr Vivienne Phelan, who is also a board member of Laois Leisure.
The Sports Energy Support Scheme (SESS) was a government initiative by Sport Ireland and Ireland Active to help sports organisations, including publicly accessible swimming pools, with increased energy costs that occurred between September 2022 and July 2023.
Despite a closing date on applications of March 2024, swimming pools are still awaiting payouts, according to Cllr Phelan.
She said: “This was a great scheme to help support swimming pools in communities to keep their doors open, despite massive energy costs especially to heat pools.
“Swimming is an activity that can be enjoyed by so many, including those with mobility challenges.
“The scheme was introduced to help alleviate the strain of energy bills, therefore it’s difficult to understand how almost two years following the closing date, swimming pools are still waiting to be paid their grants.
“I would have thought the pressures of energy bills would represent an urgency in terms of getting the grants turned around.”
Cllr Phelan went on to say: ‘I have been in contact with Active Ireland and the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, but still no joy. Thank you Deputy Willie Aird for his work also.
“I have been informed that an independent accounting firm has been taken on to verify all applications, while I am very much in favour of public money being spent judiciously, I would have thought the appropriate checks and balances should have been in place from the start to ensure efficient payments to the applicants.
“Leisure centres around the country are facing huge operational costs – grants are no good if some centres are forced to close in the meantime.”
SEE ALSO – In Pictures: €100k raised as The Heath GAA host successful Lip Sync Battle fundraiser
