There was a major standoff earlier this week at the most recent monthly meeting of Laois County Council, with local Councillors butting heads with Laois Leisure.
The seven Cllrs from the Portlaoise Municipal District had tabled a joint-motion calling on the Council to request that Laois Leisure provide one hour access per week to the swimming pool for Laois Offaly Families for Autism (LOFFA).
The Cllrs in question were Catherine Fitzgerald, Caroline Dwane Stanley, Marie Tuohy, Thomasina Connell, John Joe Fennelly, Barry Walsh and Willie Aird.
There was an air of expectancy around the proposal, but the response offered from Laois Leisure proved far from satisfactory.
“Laois Offaly Families for Autism are a regular are a regular Sunday group booking in Laois Lesiure,” the statement said.
“At present, pool timetabling for both Laois Leisure facilities is in very high demand, and both facilities are very well utilised by a broad range of members and pay-per-visit users.
“(The facilities are used) for public swimming, swimming lessons, birthday parties, and a variety of groups including Laois Water Safety, Piranha Swimming Club, Marlins Swimming Club, Vision Sports Ireland, Laois Offaly Families for Autism, and numerous schools per week.
“Laois Leisure have engaged with Laois Offaly Families for Autism with regard to a request for a regular weekend slot in our Portlaoise facility, but are currently unable to create a suitable option to meet that booking request.
“When a suitable option can be made available, Laois Leisure would be delighted to facilitate a weekly booking option for Laois Offaly Families for Autism.”
The response immediately drew the ire of Cllrs Aird and Fitzgerald, with Cllr Fitzgerald saying:
“I can’t believe what I’m after hearing there.
“People have contacted me with all our special children in this area with special needs and disabilities, and they wold like to be involved with this.
“Our special children are part of our community.
“We as seven elected members put this notice of motion forward. We write to Departments, we write to Ministers, and sometimes we feel that we’re banging our head off a wall, but this is within our own grasp.
“This is within our authority to ask Laois County Council to provide this for our special children.
“All we want is one hour per week – if we can’t provide that service – I’m disgusted with that reply, absolutely disgusted.
“I don’t accept this answer; I’m sure my colleagues will not accept this answer; it’s not good enough – and I as a public representative will not accept it.
“I am adamant that they are given an hour per week, and they should be the priority.
“Children with special needs are not able to cope with loud noise – anyone that goes into a swimming pool will know that noise is the first thing that hits you.
“These are special, wonderful children that we should be facilitating, and their families, who have to fight tooth and nail with Ministers and Departments. So I am not accepting this.”
Cllr Aird sought clarification on the response received from Laois Leisure, wishing to know if all board members of Laois Leisure were aware of the request and the resulting response.
Cllrs Barry Walsh, Caroline Dwane Stanley, and John Joe Fennelly expressed disappointment and said they expected the passing of the motion would be a mere formality.
Director of Services, Donal Brennan said: “This is a matter for the board of that company to make that decision.”
The Cllrs demanded that the board of Lois Leisure be brought brefore the Council, with Mr Brennan present, to explain the decision to deny LOFFA their one hour per week.
All elected members of the Council presented a united front on the matter, with Cllrs from the Borris-in-Ossory-Mountmellick Municipal District and the Graiguecullen-Portarlington Municipal District giving their full backing to the motion.
