LATEST: Three Tipperary schools granted access to the Garda Training College pool

Three schools have been granted access to the Templemore Garda Training College pool.

That is according to Independent TD Michael Lowry who said St Joseph’s NS Templemore, St Colmcille's NS and Drom NS have been issued licences.

In a statement, the deputy said the move was a positive one in the long-running saga.
“It has been confirmed to me by the Office of Public Works, that on request from the Garda Authorities, the OPW has now approved and signed licences for the use of the pool for three schools, namely St. Joseph’s NS Templemore, St Colmcilles’s NS. and Drom NS.

“I am glad that there is now an outcome from what has been a difficult and divisive campaign over the past number of months. I am happy that the students of these schools will now be able to enjoy the use of the pool and that the disappointment they have experienced has ended.

However, The We Just Want to Swim Campaign has said while the news is positive, it will come too late for this year.

In a post on social media, the campaign said:

“This step however, should have been taken in September. The decision by the management of the college to refuse access until February means that only a fraction of the pupils in each school will actually get to use the pool.
Fewer still will learn how to swim as access has come too late in the school year.”

They said the group has not been granted a licence to restart the Friday night swim lessons.

And until community access is restored, the issue is not resolved.

“As a town, we are appalled by how the college has treated its community. Our community had to fight and protest to get minimal access for our children.

“To rebuild bridges, we want to bring unity back into the relationship between the community and the garda college. There was for decades a desire by the garda college to support the community of Templemore. Where has this desire gone? Why has the college made it so difficult for its community to access the pool?”

In his statement, Mr Lowry acknowledged the outstanding issues at the college saying:

“The next stage is to secure agreement for the use of the pool for much-need swimming classes, and I will be pursuing this.”