Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I accept Deputy Catherine Murphy's frustration in the question she asked. It is a long time since these grants were allocated in 2000. Some of the local authorities have approached us because it is taking a long time. Matching funding is difficult to get at present. There are also technical difficulties. At the same time, I have written to the local authorities. It is something I must look at because we cannot continue where there are places, such the Deputy's area, that are looking for a pool.

As I stated in my reply, we had 58 projects, 47 are completed and 11 are still outstanding. At some stage I must make a decision and state that they will get a short time period to draw down the funds or we must close them down. Then I will have to see what I can do to allow others make applications for a new scheme.

There is not a great rush. The only local authority looking for funding for a swimming pool is the Deputy's local authority in the case of her area. There are some local authorities that even tell me they do not want to go ahead with the project and some of them have withdrawn on the basis that they cannot come up with the matching funding.

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