Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

It is intended to complete the remaining 20 pools under the current round of the local authority swimming pool programme. A total of 57 applications were received under the current round. Some 37 pools have been completed and opened to the public, eight in respect of which funding has been allocated are under construction and a further 12 are at various stages of development. Funding in respect of the latter will be allocated by my Department in due course. Funding is available to support the existing projects in the current round of the local authority swimming programme. As already stated, however, given the current budgetary constraints, it is not intended to launch a new round at this time. Noteworthy progress has been made in the context of the current programme and our priority now is to work with the relevant local authorities in bringing into public use the remaining 20 pools included under the current round.

A value for money policy review report of the local authority swimming pool programme was carried out by my Department to examine, among other things, how the programme has worked to date and what changes are required to ensure its effective and efficient delivery. The report has been published and the recommendations it contains will be considered in the context of future rounds of the programme.

See this speech in context