John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Senator for raising the matter and for giving me the opportunity to outline the current position in relation to the Tuam swimming pool application under the swimming pool programme which is administered by my Department.

The aim of the swimming pool programme is to assist local authorities in the development of swimming pools. However, the types of public swimming pools that were provided and accepted in the 1970s and 1980s are no longer acceptable. This is evident by the improvement in the quality of the facilities now being provided and proposed by local authorities.

Under the local authority swimming pool programme there are four stages in a swimming pool project following an initial submission and approval of a feasibility study. These, in order of progress, are the preliminary report stage, contract document stage, tender stage and construction stage. My Department's technical advisers, the Office of Public Works, evaluate each stage and local authorities cannot proceed to the next stage of a project unless prior approval issues from my Department. Grant aid is allocated only when tenders have been received for the project, and is capped at the time of allocation.

Under the swimming pool programme, grants of up to a maximum of €3,809,214 are available towards the refurbishment of existing pools and the provision of new pools, subject in both cases to the total grant not exceeding 80% of the eligible cost of the project or, in the case of projects located in designated disadvantaged areas, 90% of the eligible cost. Priority will be given to projects based in RAPID areas. Support is available towards the cost of the swimming pool, toddler pool, sauna and steam room.