Burke pushes case for pool to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar
The delivery of a new swimming pool and sports centre in Mullingar has to be prioritised by the government, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has been told by Minister of State Peter Burke.
Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner, Minister Burke said at a recent meeting of the Fine Gael parliamentary party, he was asked what his top three priorities for the Mullingar area are.
Top of his list is securing funding for a new sports centre in Robinstown that would incorporate a swimming pool. Confident that the funding will be made available, he says that it is vital that the project is “shovel ready” when funding is being allocated.
Earlier this year, the design and planning phase of the multi-million euro project was put out to tender by Westmeath County Council. Deputy Burke says that the project has to continue to progress in a timely manner so that the council can avail of funding.
“I outlined to the taoiseach how important it is for the town. Hopefully it will be able to progress when the planning phase is completed and the project is shovel ready. That is key to the project progressing.”
Noting that Westmeath’s population is the highest it has been in 170 years, Minister Burke says it is vital that the Mullingar region has a sports centre that will meet the needs of all its inhabitants in the years to come.
He also praised that Mullingar Pool Action Group for the work over the last year.
“The Mullingar Pool Action Group is one of the key strands in consulting with the council on that process,” he said.
The other two projects on Minister Burke’s wish-list for the Mullingar are a new advanced factory unit in Marlinstown and the electric vehicle apprenticeship centre of excellence mooted for Columb Barracks.
“We have Minister Harris coming down in the coming weeks. We are going to keep the pressure on and keep pushing the project it on. All three capital projects would improve Mullingar.
“We need to prioritise infrastructural funding, as that gives people a better work life balance, and it pays huge dividends into the economy and wider society both in terms of revenue and wellbeing,” said the local minister.