National Swimming Strategy Launched

• Ireland’s first-ever National Swimming Strategy published with a vision to provide everyone with an opportunity to swim.
• New fund of up to €500,000 to support Swim Ireland swimming activators to work within local authority areas.

Swim Ireland heralds the launch of Government’s ‘National Swimming Strategy 2024-2027’ as transformative in terms of how we support and fund the life skill and sport of swimming in Ireland and how and where we build swimming pools.

Working with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and Ministers Catherine Martin and Thomas Byrne, Sport Ireland and other key stakeholders, the Strategy, originally actioned in the National Sports Policy (2017-2027), in which swimming was called out as a priority sport, has been three years in the making.

The Strategy covers both indoor and outdoor swimming and takes account of all ages and abilities and reflects Swim Ireland’s participation vision of ‘providing everyone in Ireland with an opportunity to swim’, all bolstered by the commitment by government to funding of up to €500,000 per annum to support Swim Ireland ‘Swimming Activators’ at local level.

The Strategy will enable more inclusive, safe and accessible opportunities to swim. It will focus on increased participation for under-represented groups, better coaching supports and new and improved facilities using modern and sustainable technology.

Key areas covered in the Strategy include –

Access, Inclusion and Disability – That all segments of society have equal opportunity to swim and that barriers to access are dismantled.

Infrastructure and Facilities – To plan, construct, preserve and upgrade swimming facilities that will sustainably, and safely cater for increased access and participation

Education, Lessons and Coaching – To grow the number of competent swimmers, particularly children, through an enhanced framework of formal lessons and coaching supports

Open Water Swimming – To enhance Open Water Swimming facilities and promote safety measures, while having due regard for environmental impacts.

Pathways and Performance – To grow participation throughout the lifecycle, grow club membership numbers, develop vibrant competition structures, and pathways that allow for the development of potential high performers.

Speaking at today’s launch Minister of State for Sport, Physical Education and the Gaeltacht Thomas Byrne TD said ‘“I am proud to publish Ireland’s first-ever National Swimming Strategy which sets out a vision to provide everyone in our country with an opportunity to swim.

Swimming is Ireland’s second most popular participation sport and has the potential to be truly inclusive for all in society. It engages the young and old alike, allows for full participation including for those with physical, mental or sensory considerations, and provides options for diverse communities and minority groups to participate.

Over 5,800 submissions were received during the public consultation process, which is testament to the popularity of the sport and the critical role it can play when it comes to our physical health and mental wellbeing. I am grateful for the extensive stakeholder and public engagement that took place which had a strong role in shaping this Strategy.

The National Swimming Strategy covers both indoor and outdoor swimming and takes account of all ages and abilities. It includes an Action Plan with over fifty actions across five thematic strands.

A key focus of the National Swimming Strategy is on providing improved facilities, better coaching supports, increased safety awareness and a pathway that allows for the nurturing and development of potential high performers. The implementation of the National Swimming Strategy will also improve the culture of inclusion in swimming and increase access for people with disabilities.

We have watched on with awe and pride at the performance of the Team Ireland swimmers, including medallists Daniel Wiffen and Mona McSharry, and we understand that any Olympic or Paralympic journey begins at a local swimming pool. 

The National Swimming Strategy reflects a truly collaborative strategic vision that will strengthen and support the sustainable growth and development of swimming in Ireland for years to come.”

Swim Ireland CEO Sarah Keane added ‘After an amazing Olympic Games for Swim Ireland athletes, the Summer is truly transformative for our sport with the publication of the first ever National Swimming Strategy. The Strategy acknowledges the unique journeys of both recreational and competitive swimmers and recognises the true life skill that is swimming. It aims to bolster the growth of club memberships, enhance vibrant competition structures, and foster strong relationships between facility owners and clubs. We particularly welcome the commitment to engaging Swimming Activators at the local authority level, having long recognized the need to support more swimming opportunities locally through a coordinated approach between community stakeholders to work together to address the provision gaps.

The ambition to increase the participation rates of primary school children in the aquatics from 28% to 40% is an important target and recognises the importance of the teaching the life skill that is swimming at an early age.

Central to the Strategy is a recognition of the significant gaps in infrastructure that are inhibiting development.   We particularly welcome the focus on facility development including:

• Commitment to allocate a proportion of capital funding to swimming facilities
• the promotion of the utilisation of PUPs in areas that are underserved by permanent facilities; and
• the promotion of above ground, modular pools as a means of fast-tracking projects.

The importance of Outdoor Swimming is also recognised, and we look forward to leading on the establishment of an outdoor swimming forum to support the development and growth of Open Water Swimming. 

We recognize the significant challenges ahead, particularly in terms of infrastructure. Substantial funding will be required in the coming years to address these challenges. We have will shortly publish a report on the current state of swimming infrastructure which will guide decision making and ensure that we are targeting the communities most in need. We will continue to work very closely with Sport Ireland and others to deliver our vision of ‘an Island of swimmers’ which is hugely boosted by this impactful strategy.

Finally, a sincere thank you to Ministers Martin and Byrne for their commitment to the development of the Strategy.’

Swim Ireland would like to thank all bodies involved in the development of the Strategy including, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Ministers Catherine Martin and Thomas Byrne and staff, Sport Ireland, Ireland Active and Active Disability Ireland. We look forward to working with all partners on the roll out of the Strategy.

National Swimming Strategy 2024-2027 Report

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