Minister welcomes return of Curragh Swimming Pool, Kildare for local use

Kildare South Fine Gael TD and Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine, Martin Heydon has welcomed confirmation from the Department of Defence that the swimming pool on the Curragh Camp, closed to the public since the Covid-19 pandemic, has re-opened for use by local schools and community groups.

Minister Heydon said: “I was delighted to receive confirmation from my colleague, Helen McEntee TD, Minister for Defence that following on from my representations, along with Cllr Peggy O’Dwyer, that the swimming pool at the Curragh Camp has re-opened for use by local schools and community groups.”

Minister Heydon said that following a recruitment process, sufficient lifeguards are now in place to allow for its safe re-opening.

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The Minister said: “I along with my colleague Cllr. Peggy O Dwyer, have pursued the matter of staffing resources at the pool with the Minister for Defence, department officials and the defence forces to reopen access for civilian use.

“I welcome confirmation that due to recruitment of some additional staff, there is now capacity to open the pool to local community groups and local schools on 3 days per week."

Minister Heydon concluded by saying: “I’ll continue to advocate for further access being granted to the public in the future and also the ambition for a public pool for the Newbridge/Kildare area, but this is an important step for a facility that was much missed by many local people since the pandemic.”