John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)

I will answer the last question first. To assist the Department in formulating future policy on swimming pools we have commenced an expenditure review of the local authority swimming pool programme. Among other things, the review is examining how the programme has worked to date, the benefits that have accrued to areas where pools have been built through the existing programme, and what amendments, if any, are required to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of the programme. I anticipate the review should be completed by mid-year.

It is true there is only a limited amount of funds left for pools this year. As I have already indicated, we have approved grant aid for projects in Tuam, County Galway, Churchfield in Cork city and Ballymun in Dublin. There is a crying need for pools in many towns around the country and I will be discussing the allocation later in the year with the Minister for Finance in respect of 2005, to see if we can get him to increase the amount of funding available for pools. The Minister for Finance understands there is a necessity to increase the allocation. Having said that, a number of steps must be taken in the provision of a swimming pool. We should be able to advance some pools to the next stage in the process this year. However, the amount of funding currently left for expenditure on pools is limited.

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