€2 million funding redirected from Kilkenny for regional aquatic centre in Galway

The transfer of funding was confirmed by the minister of state for sport in the Dáil on Tuesday, when he revealed that the grant had been reallocated to finance a €3.25 million top-up package for Galway City Council.

The move followed the collapse of planned upgrades at The Watershed complex in Kilkenny, which had been awarded €2.17 million in initial funding and top-ups under the 2018 Large-Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF).

The beneficiary of the grant subsequently advised the department that it could not proceed without extra council funding to plug steep cost increases that emerged during a value-engineering review last year.

Galway Regional Aquatic Project in Knocknacarra, which had secured initial LSSIF grant aid in 2020 without receiving a subsequent top-up in 2023, was selected to receive the surrendered capital to address its own funding shortfall.

The details were outlined by Minister of State Charlie McConalogue during a debate involving Fianna Fáil TD Pádraig O'Sullivan..

“The allocation was withdrawn after the grantee advised that it could no longer proceed with the project in the absence of further funding from Kilkenny County Council to meet the significant increase in overall project cost,” said Mr McConalogue.

“The withdrawn funding was reallocated to address capital requirements for the Galway Regional Aquatic Centre, which was also allocated LSSIF funding in 2020 but had not received a top-up allocation in 2023.

“Specifically, a €3.25 million top-up allocation was allocated to Galway City Council in May 2026 to close the funding deficit to ensure delivery of the project.”

The Galway facility is expected to deliver a 35-metre by 25-metre Olympic water polo competition pool, an adjustable-depth pool floor, a sports hall, a gym, sauna and steam facilities, spectator areas, and upgraded pedestrian and cycling access routes.

Government ministers announced the €3.25 million intervention earlier this year to close the remaining council deficit, clearing the path toward tender completion, business case sign-off, and construction.

Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport Patrick O’Donovan said at the time of the award that the development represented a “potentially transformational project for Galway and for the wider west”.

“Modern, competition-standard aquatic facilities of this scale have been needed for many years. The proposed additional €3.25 million will help bridge the final funding gap and move the project closer to construction,” he said.

Mr McConalogue said strict new “use-it-or-lose-it” rules introduced under the 2024 scheme round will permit the state to cancel allocations where grants are not drawn down within two to three years.