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Press release

Minister Naughton announces €500,000 funding for outdoor swimming projects

Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy Hildegarde Naughton has today announced a new €500,000 funding scheme for outdoor swimming facilities across Ireland.

The Healthy Ireland initiative recognises the growth in popularity of outdoor swimming in recent years, and the many health benefits associated with it.

Grants of up to €30,000 will be awarded for projects that enable broader participation in outdoor swimming, such as improving access, developing and enhancing changing facilities and procuring equipment to assist people with disabilities.

The funding will be administered by Sport Ireland on behalf of the Department of Health, with applications open from tomorrow Friday 5 April to Friday 17 May, in order to facilitate the commencement of works ahead of the summer season.

Minister Naughton said:

“The popularity of outdoor swimming really has grown in recent years, and as a regular swimmer myself, I’m keenly aware of its many benefits for our physical and mental wellbeing. With a view to embracing the growing appetite for outdoor swimming across the country, I was delighted to secure €500,000 in funding as an initial phase of this new scheme in Budget 2024.

“This funding will support improvements that will make Ireland’s rich network of outdoor bathing spots more accessible to more people. Our ambition is to boost opportunities for people of all ages to come together to enjoy physical activity.

“Swimming along our wonderful beaches and beautiful lakes is not only good for body and mind, it also enhances the social fabric of our communities around the country.

“I am calling on all outdoor swimming enthusiasts, and our Local Sports Partnerships, to have a think about where in their locality might benefit from the delivery of a changing shelter, steps or handrails into the water, and to apply for funding as part of this new scheme.

“I am really excited to see successful projects active and ready for use across Ireland as early as this summer.”

CEO of Sport Ireland, Dr. Una May said:

“The Minister’s announcement is hugely welcomed by Sport Ireland ahead of the publication of Ireland’s first National Swimming Strategy later this year. Participation in sport and physical activity is hugely important for the physical and mental wellbeing of our population.

"Open Water swimming overcomes many geographic and economic barriers, and through the Local Sports Partnerships and the Local Authorities, we will work together with Swim Ireland and Healthy Ireland to increase the use of river, lake and sea swimming locations across the country.”

Swim Ireland CEO, Sarah Keane said:

“I would like to thank the Minister for her commitment to the National Swimming Strategy, through immediate action, by providing this funding support to the Local Authorities and Local Sports Partnerships.

"Swim Ireland is delighted to work with them and Sport Ireland to provide guidance and direction as to what might assist in increasing Open Water participation, and how to make it more accessible. It is great to live in a country where we have access to such incredible outdoor spaces, and where public health and wellbeing is a central consideration in a Ministerial portfolio.”

Chief Medical Officer, Professor Breda Smyth said:

“Outdoor swimming has many physical and mental health benefits, increasing cardiovascular fitness, strengthening immune systems, reducing blood pressure and stress levels and promoting improved sleep.

“I’m delighted that Healthy Ireland funding will help to make swimming more inclusive and accessible in locations around the country, adding to the range of supports that have been developed in recent years with Sport Ireland.

“These efforts are an important step in our aim of achieving the Healthy Ireland vision of a more active Ireland and ultimately a healthier population.”

Notes

Make an application for Healthy Ireland’s Outdoor Swimming Infrastructure Fund.

The application process

Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs) are eligible to apply for Healthy Ireland’s Outdoor Swimming Infrastructure Fund. Facilitated by Sport Ireland, LSPs will work closely with local authorities and local swimming clubs and groups to identify the most suitable swim zones in their locality for support under this scheme, which opens for applications on 5 April and closes on 17 May.

For the purpose of this fund, LSPs can apply for support under two streams of funding. The aim of each stream is listed below:

Stream One – Strengthening Open Water Swimming Infrastructure

  • provide funding support up to a maximum of €30,000 to innovative and creative solutions to improve changing facilities at outdoor swimming locations
  • provide funding support up to a maximum of €30,000 to improve general accessibility to safe swim zones
  • provide funding support up to a maximum of €30,000 to improve storage facilities for beach wheelchairs and/or inclusive equipment to support accessibility to safe swim zones for all
  • provide funding support up to a maximum of €30,000 to innovative and creative solutions to improve access to safe swim zones for people with disabilities
  • provide funding support up to a maximum of €10,000 for access improvements specifically relating to steps and handrails to aid support entering and leaving the water for the purpose of swimming

Stream Two – Open Water Swimming Equipment

  • provide funding support up to a maximum of €10,000 to equipment such as buoyancy aids, specialist wheelchairs, equipment to support people with disabilities to enter the water to swim
  • provide funding support up to a maximum of €10,000 to beach mats that support wheelchair users onto the beach to access water
  • provide funding support up to a maximum of €10,000 to innovative and creative solutions for small scale swim equipment at outdoor swimming locations to create more opportunities for people to take part in outdoor swimming

All applications can be one singular stream or a combination of both streams. However, full applications are limited to a total maximum of €30,000.

Sport Ireland

Sport Ireland is the authority tasked with leading, advocating and providing directed funding for the development of sport in Ireland. Sport Ireland’s vision is for an active Ireland where everyone can enjoy the lifelong benefits of sport and physical activity.

The main objective of Sport Ireland’s network of Local Sports Partnerships is to enable the ongoing development of quality sport and physical activity opportunities throughout the country, in an environment that promotes healthy lifestyles, maximum participation and is inclusive and welcoming for all. The LSP network facilitates sport and physical activity at a local level through working with clubs, coaches, and volunteers, and supporting partnerships with other organisations and community groups. There are 29 LSPs in 31 Local Authority areas in Ireland.

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