Kerry council may foot €4m pool bill

Fears for the future of a €5m swimming pool complex in Ballybunion could lead to Kerry Co Council being forced to pay almost €4m to the Government.

The local authority is not involved in the management of the health and leisure centre in the tourist town.

But following the failure of the €6m Jeanie Johnson replica Famine ship project some years ago, the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism sought a pay-back guarantee from the council on the Ballybunion Health and Leisure Centre amenity.