Sinn Féin TD for Wicklow, John Brady, has expressed dismay at the gross underspend by the Department of Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media in areas of local sports and infrastructure. This information was provided in documents from the Department before their appearance at the recent Public Accounts Committee meeting, of which Deputy Brady is the chairperson.
It was revealed that the Department underspent by €3.2 million on swimming pool grants to local authorities. In addition, a mere 21% of the Sport’s Large Scale Sport’s Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF), budget was utilised – only a €3.1 million out of a total allocation of €14.6 million. This is all the more alarming considering that Wicklow County Council has once again been overlooked for funding under LSSIF in relation to the long-overdue and much-needed development of a public swimming pool in West Wicklow.
Speaking on the issue, deputy Brady said:
I am frankly dismayed that despite these massive underspends, Wicklow County Council’s application for funding to deliver a swimming pool in West Wicklow has been ignored. It is a disgrace that taxpayer money is left sitting idle in departmental accounts, while essential facilities are denied to our communities”.
“All of the existing swimming pools in the county are allocated in the east, leaving the people of West Wicklow completely without access. This is more than just sport – it’s about health, wellbeing and water safety. Children in West Wicklow have nowhere to learn to swim, and families have no access to a vital public amenity that should be available to all”.
Deputy Brady highlighted the chronic underinvestment in West Wicklow more broadly, adding:
“This is yet another example of the consistent underfunding and neglect of West Wicklow by our successive governments. Time and time again, our communities are left behind when it comes to infrastructure, public transport, and now even basic sports and leisure facilities. That must change”.
He concluded by calling on the Department to immediately address the funding shortfall:
“There is absolutely no justification for this level of underspend, particularly when there are projects like this crying out for funding. For years, the community campaign group has been working hard to fight for a swimming pool in the area, and to see that there was an underspend in this budget when the group was denied funding is extremely disappointing. I have written to the Minister for Sport seeking clarification on this decision”.