Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The swimming pool to which Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan refers in Ballaghaderreen is in private ownership and the hotel in which it is located has been shut down. If the county council makes a proposal to the Department in respect of this matter, we will consider it. I am not indicating that we are going to agree to it, I am merely stating that a proposal should be made.

In the context of Castlerea, the Deputy will be aware that the programme is closed. However, the Department recently provided €125,000 for the purposes of upgrading the pool at Castlerea and making it wheelchair accessible. I have no difficulty with meeting the individuals to whom the Deputy referred but there is nothing I can say to them. There has not been a programme in place since 2000. We are going to deal with the 12 swimming pool projects which remain outstanding. Until these are disposed of, we will not even consider whether a new round should be commenced.

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