Turning away business due to shortage of staff

Leisureland will be closed for at least five days – and possibly longer – over the Easter holidays while essential maintenance is undertaken by specialist contractors.

The facility, which just three years ago faced closure due to escalating running costs which had to be met by the Council, is now so busy that management have to turn away business due to staff shortages.

Difficulty in recruiting staff to supervise the pool, manage the facility and oversee events has curbed its operation following the lifting of restrictions that were imposed during the pandemic.

In an update to councillors by City Chief Executive Brendan McGrath, it emerged that school bookings in the pool would recover to previous levels after Easter. They were currently down 40 per cent this term compared to 2019 as schools grappled with the changing Covid health advice.

The swimming clubs have fully booked up their traditional sessions while the Leisureland Swimming Academy is currently at 1,022 kids learning to swim per week.

“A limit on pool user numbers has been introduced due to challenges in securing the required swimming instructors,” the quarterly report stated.

Following the Covid closure, Leisureland had opened services on a gradual basis with reduced levels of staff.

“Due to a lack of training delivery in certain specific areas, such as lifeguard training, during the closedown period there are currently a smaller pool of certified staff available within the labour force. This is beginning to cause recruitment difficulties,” Mr McGrath reported.

“Leisureland is facing the labour shortages challenges found across the tourism and recreation industry at present and the lack of qualified staff may lead to a moderation in the service provision levels that the facility can provide in the short term. A recruitment drive is current underway to fill critical positions within the organisation.”

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.

Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App

Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.

Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.

Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite  HERE.

Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.