Michael Kitt (Fianna Fail)

As the Minister knows, Tuam swimming pool has been listed for redevelopment since 1998. In November 2000 a new set of plans was prepared by Galway County Council with the objective of building a new pool, adjacent to the existing pool, in the palace grounds at Tuam. This led to the completion of the requisite preliminary report on the project and the submission of this report to the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism.

I asked the former Minister, Deputy McDaid, to meet a delegation from Tuam in February 2001 to discuss the proposed development and we had a positive meeting. The existing pool in Tuam, which is the second oldest pool in the Department list of swimming pools for redevelopment, was opened in 1971. Many of the local authority pools on the list have now been redeveloped yet Tuam remains in limbo. While the existing pool which has served the public well for over 30 years remains operational the public demands higher quality facilities with a greater range of incorporated activities. This can only be provided via a new development.