Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

I acknowledge the Senator's comments but I have been furnished with a long response, which is technical, and I do not know whether it contains good news. I also acknowledge his statement regarding the previous commitment and I will convey that to the Minister.

The aim of the programme is to assist local authorities in the provision of new public swimming pools or in the refurbishment of existing pools. Grants of up to a maximum of €3.8 million are available towards the refurbishment of existing pools or the provision of new pools, subject in either case 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. Support is available towards the cost of the swimming pool, toddler pool, sauna and steam room.

The closing date for receipt of applications under the current round was 31 July 2000. The position in regard to Mitchelstown, according to the Department, is that eight projects were submitted by local authorities after the deadline but could not be processed as they were received after the final date for submission. These projects were located in Douglas and Mitchelstown, in Cork city and county respectively, Kells and Trim in County Meath, Roxboro in Limerick city, Portnoo in County Donegal and Cloghran in County Dublin. One replacement project in Monaghan town was accepted into the programme after the closing date, as an exceptional measure, because the local authority pool closed for safety reasons in 2001.

There are 55 swimming pool projects in the programme, of which 13 have been opened or have completed construction work. These are in Arklow, Courtown-Gorey, Dundalk, Ennis, Enniscorthy, Monaghan, Navan, Wicklow, Roscommon, Tralee, Ballinasloe, Finglas, County Dublin and Grove Island in Limerick. Five projects are at construction phase, in the Regional Sports and Leisure Centre, Tralee, Clonmel, Tuam, Churchfield in Cork city and Ballymun in Dublin. In addition, 37 other applications are at various stages in the process, with four at tender stage, 18 at contract document stage and 15 at preliminary report stage. Due to the long lead time associated with such projects, it can take time for projects to proceed through the various stages of development. However, despite the long lead in times, significant progress is being made.

Notwithstanding this, because of the large number of pool projects still being processed, it is not proposed to re-open the pool programme. However, the Department is carrying out an expenditure review on the swimming pool programme, which is expected to be completed by 30 June. This review will examine, among other things, how the programme has worked to date, the benefits which have accrued to the areas where pools have been built, the levels of funding required to honour existing commitments, how these commitments can be managed within the confines of available funding and any amendments required to ensure effective and efficient delivery of the programme. On completion of this review, the question of reopening the programme can be considered. Should it be decided to reopen the programme, the application in respect of Mitchelstown will be revisited.

I will recall for the Seanad the administrative procedures in force under the current programme so that there is full appreciation of what is involved before a decision is made on they allocation of moneys under the programme. Following the submission and approval of an initial feasibility study, a swimming pool project must complete four distinct stages, which are outlined in the report.

Regarding Mitchelstown, it will be of interest to the Senator that where a project is being undertaken by an organisation other than a local authority, the proposal must be considered, supported and submitted by the relevant local authority. Before supporting a project, the local authority would have to be satisfied that the proposal was viable, that the balance of funding required to complete the project was available and that the project, when completed, would have satisfactory public access.

It is vital that the promotion of sport generally and the development of facilities such as swimming pools are carried out in a strategic and focused way. This means establishing priorities, avoiding overlaps and ensuring maximum public access to available facilities. I am anxious that the investment of taxpayers' money by the Government provides value for money by ensuring that attractive, viable facilities are built. The funding provided for 2004 by my Department, amounting to €63 million in respect of the sports capital programme, €30 million in respect of the Sports Council and, in this context, €15 million in respect of the local authority swimming pool programme — an increase of 67% on the previous year's expenditure — demonstrates that the Government's commitment to sport and leisure provision is being sustained.

Did the Senator send in full details of the meeting at which he said a commitment was made by the then Minister, Deputy McDaid?