The government has launched a national swimming strategy for the first time.
Its focus is on providing improved facilities, better coaching supports and also includes a pathway for potential elite athletes - to help pave the way for future Daniel Wiffens and Mona McSharrys following their recent Olympics success.
The strategy comes as Dolphin Swimming Club in Mayfield launched a GoFundMe to help pay for a planning application for the construction of an Olympic-sized pool in Cork which is sitting in a warehouse waiting to be assembled
Sport Minister Thomas Byrne accepts that the cost of swimming lessons means some people are excluded
"That is one of the issues with swimming, there is doubt about it, swimming pools in general cost a lot of money to build and to run. One of the recommendations in the strategy is to explore further funding streams, such as under the dormant account funds, to specifically target minority and disadvantaged groups"
