Douglas pool to remain closed for the month

CORK’S oldest public pool which closed last week after storm damage will remain closed until the end of the month at least.

The city council, which owns the ageing Gus Healy pool in Douglas, confirmed last night that its roof, which was damaged by high winds, needs further repairs.

A report from a structural engineer yesterday directed that further works are needed to make safe the damaged section of roof.

The repairs are due to start next Tuesday and the pool will remain closed until the week of March 31 at the earliest, a council spokesman said.

The repairs will cost several thousand euro and will be financed from the pool’s own maintenance budget.

The news came as Minister for Sport, Seamus Brennan, threw a lifeline to the troubled facility.

He confirmed in the Dáil that he plans to reopen a funding programme for local authority pools.

He said his department has completed a “value for money” and a “policy review report” of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme. He said he intends to launch a new round of the programme.

The council spokesman said officials plan to submit an application for funding to build a new public pool facility in Douglas as soon as the programme set up.