Council urged to splash out on opening hours at Kells pool

The need for extended opening hours at Kells Swimming Pool was highlighted at a meeting of Kells Municipal Council on Monday.

Councillors called for more public sessions at the pool and expressed concern at occasions when sessions had to be cancelled because of staff shortages.

They were told that the council's priority was to get the current hours fully staffed and to sustain it at that level before considering expanding the hours or services.

Members heard that there was a total footfall of 2,600 at the pool each week with 420 of those attending public sessions, 950 attending school swim lessons, 850 participating in children's lessons, 40 in adult lessons, and 90 in aquafit.

Seventeen per cent of the sessions were for private hire involving 240 people.

On hearing they were having a problem recruiting staff, Cllr Sarah Reilly said she had worked there for ten years and it was a brilliant place to work. "I would encourage people to apply for these jobs. It is a great job to have," she said.

Councillors were told a review was carried out in the last quarter of 2021, following the refurbishment of the facility in 2018/19 and Covid restrictions, to set out phases for the delivery of services.

A new pay structure and rosters allowed staff provide additional services such as teaching and aquafit classes and in February 2022 programmed swimming lessons for children were introduced, while public swimming sessions were continued.

By September 2022 there were 700 children attending swimming classes, adult swimming classes were introduced, schools swimming classes were introduced and intensive classes at Easter, summer and Halloween were provided.

Councillors were told that life-saving classes have are now taking place and mother and bay sessions will be introduced.

The pool is currently opened 80 hours per week with 10 full-time and 12 part-time staff and two vacancies for full time employees.