The Strategy will be based on a vision to “provide everyone in Ireland with an opportunity to swim”. It will seek to take account of all ages and abilities, recognising the participation potential of swimming over the full life course. Strategies for indoor and outdoor swimming will be considered in recognition of swimming as a life skill and physical activity of choice, as well as a sport.

The consultation is in the form of a series of multiple choice questions which takes approximately 10 minutes to complete; it can be accessed at the following link: gov.ie/swimmingstrategy

The closing date is 7 October 2022.

Speaking today, Minister Chambers said:

“Swimming has been identified as the second most popular participation sport behind personal exercise, and the number one sport for women and people with a disability. It is a key life skill and can play an important role in both our physical health and fitness, as well as our mental health and wellbeing.

The health restrictions necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic over the past two years impacted heavily on the swimming sector. The development and implementation of a National Swimming Strategy to provide additional swimming opportunities indoors and outdoors has accordingly been identified amongst the COVID-19 recovery priorities for sport.

It is critical that we get as diverse a response as possible from the consultation – whether you are an active regular swimmer, a casual swimmer, a holidays only swimmer, or indeed if you don’t swim at all, we would like to hear your views on swimming in Ireland and what should be included in the strategy.

I look forward to reading the responses from a wide range of the Irish public and using the views expressed to guide us in the development of our first National Swimming Strategy."