Donegal County Council has committed to focus on progressing plans for the return of Buncrana Leisure Centre.
Inishowen has been without a swimming pool since April 2015, which has been a source of frustration for the population for years.
Cllr Jack Murray highlighted the urgent need for a leisure facility to Donegal County Council at this month’s meeting saying: “We are now raising children that can’t swim. That is a very important life skill.”
Cllr Murray called on the council to make the provision of leisure centre amenities a priority for all citizens in Donegal. The council said it is actively engaging with Buncrana Leisure Centre Community Company to progress plans for an enhanced building.
Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Murray said; “Buncrana Leisure Centre has now been closed for over three and a half years. What was planned to be a temporary closure has rumbled on for far, far too long.
“I acknowledge that the council has been in regular contact with the committee and working to support them but, frustratingly, obstacles continue to arise.
“While speaking on the motion, I asked that all thirty-seven councillors would agree that the leisure centre is a priority for the council and that we put an absolute focus on getting it over the line.
“I also reminded my council colleagues that this leisure centre will service the entire peninsula. It’ll be the closest leisure centre for those in areas like Carndonagh, Malin and Burnfoot. Inishowen is larger than County Louth and has a bigger population than both Carlow and Leitrim. The people of this area deserve the amenities which other areas might take for granted.
“Last year, while I was chairperson of the Inishowen Municipal District, I arranged a meeting in which all councillors in the peninsula expressed their support for the council financially supporting the pool.
“Now we have all councillors in the county fully behind the project so I hope that this will move things further forward.
“The council spent some €1.2million supporting leisure centres throughout Donegal in this year’s budget. That is great for those areas and something I fully support.
“Now though, it’s time to deliver the new Buncrana Leisure Centre so we in Inishowen can access the same amenities that others can.
“We have waited far too long and patience in the community has long worn out.”
