Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle's office for allowing Deputy Catherine Murphy and me to raise the issue of the sudden closure of the swimming pool on the campus of National University of Ireland Maynooth, which is used by both college staff and students and the wider community. I understand the decision to close the facility was made in March and conveyed to staff at that time, but only became public knowledge in recent weeks. In recent days, local public representatives attended a meeting with the president of the college, Professor Philip Nolan, in an effort to persuade management to defer the closure until an alternative arrangement is found.

There is a long-standing proposal to build a municipal swimming pool in the area, which is supported by all local government representatives and Oireachtas Members. The view is that it would be advantageous to have a discussion on the subject as quickly as possible. Earlier today, all local representatives received an e-mail from the college authorities indicating that it is not intended to defer the closure of the pool but that they are prepared to engage with the local authority to ascertain whether there might be a joint approach to providing a facility that could be used by the local community and the college. That proposal must be taken up. The local community has raised money for this purpose and the local authority has made preparations in that regard.

I propose that the college authorities be called upon once more to defer their decision to close the pool and that negotiations be initiated by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport with the local authority and the local community to find a solution.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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There are only two municipal swimming pools in County Kildare, in Athy and Naas, serving a population of 210,000. The north Kildare towns of Leixlip, Celbridge, Maynooth and Kilcock have a combined population of some 60,000 and have become dependent on the very old pool on the NUI Maynooth campus. Some 800 children will be directly affected by the closure, having been told their classes will finish at the end of August. The area has a very large young population.

As Deputy Durkan indicated, the three local Deputies have met with the college president to discuss the two main issues that arise out of the decision to close the college pool. The first issue is the need to put in place a municipal pool and the second is the short-term response that is required in terms of retaining the facility at the university. The president told us the university has no obligation to provide a public pool, that responsibility being one for the Government and the local authority. The primary purpose of the college, he noted, is one of education. The president indicated that the cost of the works required to restore the pool to the required condition, which include improvements to air-handling and the fabric of the pool, would be some €350,000. In the meantime, he said, the college is losing money on operational costs.

The most important outcome of our meeting with the president, however, was his clear indication that the college does not want the risk of managing even an upgraded facility. In other words, it is not seeking the money needed to upgrade the pool. That is not the issue. The best we can hope for is that the college authorities might postpone the decision to close it. The e-mail to which Deputy Durkan referred, which was sent today, states that it is simply not possible for the college to reverse the decision to close the pool unless there is agreement on a joint development with Kildare County Council of a swimming pool that meets the needs of the university and the community, in which case the college authorities would be willing to examine any viable case to reopen the pool at Maynooth on an interim basis.

This situation arose as a result of the closure of the swimming pool fund in 2000, with no prospect of its being reopened. There is a real need for action in this regard in north Kildare.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputies for raising this matter. I was disappointed to learn of the closure of the swimming pool on the campus of NUI Maynooth. The Deputies will appreciate that this was a decision for the college authorities and not one in which I was involved. It is always a disappointment to see facilities close and I have no doubt this particular decision will be regretted by swimmers in Maynooth and the surrounding areas. Swimming provides a marvellous sporting opportunity for people of all ages and abilities. Given that so much swimming in Ireland takes place in indoor pools, it is also generally a weather-independent activity, a key advantage given our climate.

Under the local authority swimming pool programme, LASPP, grant aid to a maximum of €3.8 million is provided to local authorities towards the capital costs of the provision of new swimming pools or the refurbishment of existing pools. Since 2000, 58 projects have been or are being dealt with under the scheme, of which 49 have been completed and the remaining nine are at various stages of development. The allocation of the maximum LASPP grant of €3.8 million is subject to the total grant not exceeding 80% of the eligible cost of the project or, in the case of projects located in disadvantaged areas, 90% of the eligible cost.

There are many complex technical aspects involved in refurbishing or replacing a swimming pool. The whole process, from feasibility study to going on site, can and usually does take a number of years. That is before we even get to the construction of the facility; construction itself typically takes at least a further 18 months. A great amount of technical work by the local authorities is involved. Modern pools generally include attractive additional features such as saunas, steam rooms and toddler pools, thereby providing better long-term value for money and greater benefit to local communities. Due to changed economic circumstances, although building projects can in some cases be sourced at better rates, local authorities' funds from development levies and so on have decreased considerably, which has made the financing of pool projects very difficult.

No decision has been made on the timing of a new round of the LASPP. The clear focus is on completing as many of the pools in the current round as possible. However, as we bring that round to a close, it will become clear that some pools will not take up their funding, which may give scope for a limited reopening of the LASPP, albeit on a more modest scale and with a limited number of projects. It would then be open to all local authorities to apply, including Kildare County Council. Factors such as population, local demand and existing access to pools will be a critical factor in deciding on the allocation of funding to projects under a reopened LASPP. That will not happen tomorrow or next week, but it is something of which I am very conscious.

In 2011 and 2012, I allocated more than €14 million under an energy upgrade and enhanced disabled access initiative, under which grants of up to a maximum of €400,000 were allocated to pools. This scheme was a great success and I have witnessed its positive effects at first hand. In a time of high energy costs, these grants helped pools to reduce their operating costs and become more viable. As we all know, operating a swimming pool is a very expensive activity. Given the great success of that scheme, I launched another round recently and the applications received are currently being assessed. Such schemes are a clear recognition of the expense involved in running a swimming pool and the importance of ensuring those facilities remain open to provide a healthy activity for people of all ages and abilities.

I am naturally disappointed to see the pool in Maynooth close, as I am when any such facility closes. As I said, I am aware of the demand for a new swimming pool in north Kildare. The area will be a prime candidate for a new pool when I have the opportunity and funding to open a new, limited round of the LASPP.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive reply and obvious understanding of the situation. I ask him to consider, in the limited time available in this session, meeting the local authorities, Members and college authorities with a view to identifying the best possible options for the local community and the best possible value for money in the provision of facilities in the future, without tying anybody into a particular situation and recognising that the college authorities have a different source of revenue from the local community. Would it be possible to arrange that in the short time available? If so, Members and the college authorities would be anxious to be involved.

I would strongly support the concept of a local or municipal pool if that were a possibility. I would also like to examine any possibility of deferring the closure, which would be a serious blow to the swimming clubs and members of the local community that have traditionally used the pool.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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The reason this very old pool is being discussed is the absence of what should have been provided given the population involved. No other county in the country has a population of more than 200,000 without a city in the middle. As the population grows, it is supposed to be provided with services. It may be a great idea to provide energy upgrades to other pools around the country, but that does not cut the mustard for the children who do not have swimming classes in their area. Once this goes, nothing else will be available. There is not even the hope of a pool.

I have spoken to the Minister of State about this issue for the past four years. I accept that in the early years of the Government it was not possible to provide the money, but it is outrageous that some local authorities are sitting on an allocation that they are not in a position to use while other parts of the country are in need. Money could be diverted to deliver facilities in a more timely manner. This is a complete failure to provide for a need, and I do not hear a whole lot in what the Minister of State said that gives me a great deal of comfort. Nothing that will happen before the end of the Government's term gives us any hope of another pool.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Deputies from Kildare have been raising this issue for a while. Let us be honest. In 2000 there was a scheme whereby 58 pools were selected, but there was no deadline for the closure of the scheme. My hands are tied. I have been conscious of the requests for swimming pools in certain areas with high populations. I met the County and City Managers' Association, which has no love of swimming pools because they are too costly for local authorities. It asked me to introduce a scheme and I provided €14 million to assist with energy costs for existing pools. A number of local authority pools throughout the country were in serious difficulty and unable to keep their doors open. Without the scheme there were would more closures.

The problem is that the pool in Maynooth is private. Deputy Durkan asked me to meet local representatives and I will do so, but I will not meet those involved with private pools. I have been under pressure from Labour Party and Fine Gael colleagues and others over the past number of months and I am trying to open a limited scheme. I do not want members in every local authority asking for a scheme when local authorities have no will or funding for such a scheme.

Two or three areas in the country are in need of pools and I am considering how we can introduce a scheme. Pools will be provided in areas where demand exists and feasibility studies will be done to ensure they will be profitable. There is no point in setting up pools that will be in difficulty six months after they have opened. The Deputies have a point and I am examining the issue. I gave a commitment and asked my officials some months ago to develop a scheme whereby we can deal with two or three areas in the country and give them the opportunity to have a pool.