Funding secured for feasibility study into the Tidal Pools in Salthill

Fine Gael Councillor Clodagh Higgins has today welcomed that funding has been secured by her in the City Council’s budget for 2022 for a feasibility study to be undertaken on the decommissioned Tidal Pools at Ladies Beach in Salthill.

Councillor Higgins has long advocated for the reintroduction of the use of these pools given the huge surge in the popularity of swimming over the past couple of years.

Councillor Higgins said “I am delighted that the governing pact on Galway City Council has supported my proposal to have a feasibility study conducted into recommissioning the Tidal Pools at Ladies Beach in Salthill. Investigating the possibility of the re-introduction of these is another step forward in helping to further enhance the amenity value of Salthill and contribute socially and economically to the area. The Tidal Pools in Salthill is a project that I am passionate about progressing and now because €44,000.00 has been set aside in the budget we are one step further to realising this”.

“It makes sense on many levels for these pools to be reintroduced as many people in Salthill learnt how to swim in the now defunct tidal pools. Over the pandemic, we saw a huge resurgence of interest in sea swimming and having a facility like the Tidal Pools opened would be a positive for those taking up swimming who may feel a little daunted by the prospect of open sea swimming.  Hopefully this funding will be the first step in ensuring that many others will learn how to swim there again”.

“There were a number of really worthy projects put forward right across the City for inclusion in the funding pot and I was delighted when I put forward this project it was supported by all ten Councillors who make up the pact. I look forward to seeing the results of the feasibility report and to campaigning for funding at national level to see this project come to fruition” Councillor Higgins concluded.