Public meeting following ‘universal anger’ at Buncrana Leisure Centre funding 

A public meeting is to take place next week amid anger at the failure of the new Buncrana Leisure Centre project to be awarded funding.

The decision not to grant a funding application for the leisure centre and swimming pool in Buncrana has been described as “a massive setback”. 

The Buncrana Leisure Centre was not one of 35 projects announced on Monday as having been granted a share of  €173million under the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund.

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Buncrana has been without a swimming pool since 2015 when the leisure centre closed for renovations. It was recommended in 2018 that the building on Aileach Road be demolished and replaced with a new facility.

Planning approval for a two-storey building of almost 2,500 square metres and a 25-metre-long pool was granted in January.

The funding application was for  €11.7m with an additional €5 million to come from Donegal County Council.

The public meeting is to take place at 8pm on Tuesday, November 12 in Crana College.

Rosina McLaughlin, chair of the Buncrana Leisure Centre Committee, said: “I'm very happy for all efforts made to secure this funding and while we are a totally non political organisation I am happy for all who are trying to help.”

Cllr Jack Murray has called the meeting following “the universal anger and disappointment across Inishowen, at the decision not to grant funding for our leisure centre”. He said all elected representatives for Inishowen will be invited. 

Donegal TD and agriculture minister Charlie McConalogue said it did not prove possible to secure funding for the leisure centre and the ATU project “given the need for a regional spread across all counties”, adding that he is committed to securing funding for the Buncrana project.