Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)

I thank the Senator for raising this matter and giving me the opportunity to outline the current position in relation to the Castlebar swimming pool application under the swimming pool programme administered by the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism. 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 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.