Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The closing date under the current round of the programme was 31 July 2000 and since 2000, the total expenditure under the programme was almost €169 million. In January 2016 the Department contacted local authorities and sought expressions of interest in a limited round of swimming pool allocations. Three expressions of interest were received. Two of the applications for new pools were valid and they were both in Dublin. Of the two in Dublin, Lucan was chosen for inclusion in the programme. That means the projects that remain in the current programme are Castlebar, Buncrana, Edenderry and Lucan, each of which is at various stages of the programme. Another pool in Dunmanway officially opened on 6 June 2017. The priority in 2017 is on progressing projects through to the next stage of the programme, as appropriate. In relation to the future funding of swimming pools, a review of national sports policy is being finalised at present and it is expected to be published shortly. The policy statement will include a specific focus on how the Government should fund sports facilities, including swimming pools, in the years ahead.

That is not a satisfactory answer for Deputy Catherine Murphy and the Chairman. As members are aware, pools are very expensive and they do not make money. They are a service which quite rightly the State subsidises and gives to the community for their health and enjoyment and the importance of sport. There is a bit of a problem there. I do not want to say any more than this because people will scream at me if I say any more. We should not rule out the possibility of pools being included in the fund to which we just referred.