Leisureland ‘will need €1m subsidy’ to open in 2021

From this week’s Galway City Tribune – Councillors have voted to hand over €207,000 to Leisureland – in addition to the €300,000 annual subsidy – to keep the facility open until the end of the year.

The Board of Management of the Galway Salthill Fáilte CLG – which operates the public facility – had requested €178,000 to keep the hall open but close the pool, which was failing to attract swimmers other than sports clubs since it reopened after the restrictions were lifted.

However, they have since indicated that it will require a subsidy of more than €1m in 2021 to maintain full services.

Members of the public, as well as schools which did swimming lessons in the facility, have been staying away because of the challenge of managing social distancing on bus transport, Brian Barrett, the City Council’s Acting Director of Services told a local authority meeting this week.

The Board informed councillors they had already spent the €300,000 annual subsidy and would be insolvent by the end of 2020 without another cash injection. The facility was losing between €15,000 and €20,000 a week, which was mainly down to wages for the 28 staff, while not getting income from swimming lessons or hosting concerts and festivals. The annual ice rink at Christmas was also under threat.

After losing €600,000 a year for many years, the facility had turned a small profit in the last two years working at near full capacity until the pandemic hit. When it reopened, the 250 maximum capacity was reduced to 50.

A statement from Leisureland’s Manager, Ian Brennan, said that while the loan was welcomed, the Board was concerned about the implications it would have on maintaining a full level of service in 2021.
This is a shortened preview version of this article. To read the full details on Leisureland and its finances, see this week’s Galway City Tribune. You can buy a digital edition HERE.