Minister of State for Tourism and Sport Michael Ring has announced a grant of €352,800 to Ballyhaunis Swimming Pool for refurbishment works under the Green Swimming Pool initiative, designed to make the pools across Ireland more energy efficient and less reliant on State support.
Minister of State Michael Ring said: “I am delighted to be able to allocate this funding to Ballyhaunis Swimming Pool. It will modernise this facility and make it available and attractive to both young and old.
“The Green Swimming Pool initiative improves energy efficiency in swimming pools. Swimming pools require a lot of heating, so these grants will help more pools to become energy efficient, reduce their impact on the environment, and also reduce costs for taxpayers.
“Strong representations had been made to me by Cllr John Cribbin over the past number of months regarding Ballyhaunis Swimming Pool”.
Minister Ring also announced €25,000 for Ballyhaunis Boxing Club to help improve their facilities.
“I am hopeful that this money will upgrade the existing facilities at the boxing club and encourage more people to take up boxing,” concluded Minister Ring.
The funding was warmly welcomed by Depu John O Mahony TD, who stated:
“This is great news for the people of Ballyhaunis. The funding will allow some badly needed refurbishment take place and the end result will be more people in Ballyhaunis will avail of the facilities on offer at the pool.
“Swimming is a fantastic sport and continually growing in popularity. With the growth in the adventure sports such as triathlons more and more people are turning to swimming. The refurbishment of the pool in Ballyhaunis will be of immense benefit to all those people,” he said.
Deputy O’Mahony said the Green Swimming Pool initiative improves energy efficiency in swimming pools. “Anything that can help make pools more efficient has to be welcomed,” he said.
