Plans for Buncrana Leisure Centre becoming a reality
Donegal County Council lodged a new funding application for the leisure centre in the call for the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund
Positive steps have been made towards the building of a Buncrana Leisure Centre.
Donegal County Council lodged a new funding application for the leisure centre in the call for the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund. Planning permission is in place and it is hoped approval will be granted come autumn.
“I've just had it confirmed that the funding application for Buncrana Leisure Centre is being uploaded to the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund website,” Sinn Féin councillor Jack Murray posted on Monday.
“With contingencies included, the council is seeking some €17million for the development of a state-of-the-art, leisure centre - no less than what this community deserves. I understand that our application is one of only two swimming pools that have planning permission in place so it's a very exciting position to be in.
“I want to publicly thank the council staff who have invested so much time into putting together such a strong and detailed application. I also want to thank all the schools, community groups, and sporting organisations who have written letters of support to strengthen the application. Also to the leisure centre committee who have assisted the council throughout this process and never allowed it to slip off the agenda.
“It's now up to the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to adjudicate on the application but I'm very proud of the effort that's been put in by everyone involved. The pool is a priority for our community, and that's been reflected in this application.”
Inishowen currently has no public swimming pool. The leisure centre on the Buncrana's shorefront closed in 2015 for renovations and has not reopened since. It was recommended in 2018 that the building on Aileach Road be demolished and replaced with a new facility.
The plans are for a two-storey building of almost 2,500 square metres, which includes a pool hall with a five-lane 25-metre-long pool, a learner pool, a flume slide and fitness facilities.