North Mayo councillors says Erris region needs an indoor pool

AN indoor pool is on the wishlist for Belmullet.

Some locals have to travel 75 kilometres to access their nearest indoor pool, Councillor Sean Carey has highlighted.

And while the local outdoor pool is a wonderful amenity, the point was made by Councillor Gerry Coyle that it's impossible to teach schoolchildren to swim there in winter.

Speaking at a municipal district meeting, Councillor Carey said the lack of an indoor pool has been a concern for some time locally.

There are 11 pools, private and public, in Mayo, but leave Blacksod and you will travel 75 kilometres before you get a pool.

Erris, he said, has 12,000 people and they don't have access to an indoor pool. Many of them wished to avail of the facility, people with disabilities, older people, and children, and it's much needed.

Schoolchildren are having to travel to Westport, Mulranny or Ballina to avail of lessons.

Councillor Carey said consideration should be given for an application for community sports funding to provide a pool in the Belmullet area.

Councillor Coyle said an indoor heated pool is a must for the area, and when the new scheme for funding opens next year that have to be on it.

* Published under the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme