RESIDENTS OF Dublin’s north inner city are to hold a protest outside City Hall on Monday evening over the proposed closure of a public swimming pool on Seán MacDermott Street.
The pool, which is run by Dublin City Council, is one of three community swimming pools that are scheduled to close at the end of August, along with those in Coolock and Crumlin, because the council can no longer afford to fund them.
A spokeswoman for the council said the deadline for closure had been extended from June to the end of August, and that unless an alternative means of funding the pools was found they would have to be closed.
The matter will be up for discussion at the city council meeting on Monday evening, which is when the protest is scheduled to take place.
Lord Mayor of Dublin Emer Costello (Labour) said councillors were still seeking a long-term solution to keep the facilities open, but that she was pleased they would stay open for the summer months.
Former Sinn Féin MEP Mary Lou McDonald, who is participating in the protest, said the Seán MacDermott Street pool was one of very few sports facilities available for families and young people in the north inner city.
“The city management and those councillors who support this cut to the council budget are letting the community down,” she said.
