The ongoing saga of broken tiles at the NSC’s swimming pool is unlikely to be resolved by the time schools start the new year in September.
Education, Sport and Culture Minister Daphne Caine confirmed the total spend to date is £13,000.
“That is £10,500 for the site visit and report and £2,500 for material analysis and those technical notes,” she said. Regarding the loss of revenue, Caine added: “Six lanes of the pool remain fully open, and I don’t have any detail around staff time or those.”
The problem was first discovered in November 2023 when the fault was first identified.
Jason Moorhouse MHK pressed for clarity, asking: “With regard to the main contractor and the work that was done, is there an indication of how long discussion is likely to go on for before an alternative action is taken?”
Minister Caine replied: “The discussions are ongoing, and as soon as I have any resolution to that, any update for members, I will, of course, bring it.”
She added: “In terms of the time for completing the work to the swimming pool, the department would have liked any repair work to be completed by September 2025 to ensure that school swimming would not be affected for the next academic year.
“However, it is unlikely that that deadline can be achieved.”
Cost
Julie Edge sought assurances about costs to the public purse, asking: “Can she confirm they will be claimed back from the main contractor?”
Mrs Caine told members: “We are currently in dialogue with the main contractor, and I think we need to allow that process to complete.” She added: “When we have the outcome of those discussions, I’ll be in a better position to update all members.”
Mr Moorhouse raised concerns about the 2029 Island Games, to which Mrs Caine responded: “I would anticipate indeed, that we would have the pool in tip top condition, along with all our sports facilities, in time for the Island games in 2029.”
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