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: preliminary report stage; contract documents stage; tender stage; and construction stage. The 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 the Department. Grant aid is allocated only when tenders have been received for the project and it is capped at the time of allocation.