The Government is launching a new swimming strategy to prepare for 'the next Mona McSharry or Daniel Wiffen', the Sports Minister has said.
It follows hot on the heels of Team Ireland's success at the Paris Olympics.
Interest in the sport is booming following the achievements of Olympic medallists Daniel Wiffen and Mona McSharry, who took gold and bronze respectively, at the Paris 2024 Games.
The Government's new plan, which will be unveiled at the National Aquatic Centre in Dublin today, is expected to include a major funding announcement for both indoor and outdoor swimming.
Minister of State for Sport Thomas Byrne told Newstalk Breakfast the swimming strategy is being launched at a good time.
"We've had a number of Olympic medals in swimming in the last few weeks - I think it's important to remember as well, in relation to the strategy, it's been worked on for the last couple of years," he said.
"I'm really delighted that we're launching it in the context of Olympic success because it heightens the profile of it but also puts even more responsibility on Government to make sure that we're ready for the next Mona McSharry [or] Daniel Wiffen".
'Future Olympians'
Minister Byrne said giving more people access to a pool is crucial.
"Clearly the most important factor in swimming is getting access to a pool... there's recommendations in the strategy about work that will now take place in relation to that," he said.
"There's also some recommendations in the area of education - lessons and coaching - we need to expand out this as well.
"It's really important not just for future Olympians, although that'll be part of it, but also just for the general population in terms of learning to swim and water safety".
€500,000 in funding
Minister Byrne said different Government bodies will be working together on the swimming strategy.
"The themes of swimming and the issues around swimming are now really at the heart of Government," he said.
"We'll have bodies working together - whether it's Government departments, whether it's our local sports partnership or local authorities - the actions in the action plan are all geared around who is responsible for delivering them".
He said €500,000 funding is also being made available through Sport Ireland for "local swimming activators".
"[It's] a bit like in the GAA [where] they have games promotion officers - these are people who will work to activate swimming within communities," the Minister said.
"Whether that's to encourage people to swim or indeed to work within local authorities to make sure the pools that we have are used to the fullest extent possible.
"I'm not convinced that is happening everywhere in the country at the moment".
Minister Byrne added that initiates are also being recommended in the swimming strategy around education and embedding water safety into schools.
