My main concern is that there is now a proposal to downsize the proposed pool to one with only five lanes. It is unfair that after such a long wait the people of Tuam would not get what was promised. The extra lane was to be used for activities such as aqua fitness. I will fight for the full six lane facility. We have only one chance to get it right and this is the time to do so. All swimming pools recently approved by the Department have been approved for six lanes. The proper name for such pools is leisure centres and, as proposed for Tuam, they come with saunas, steam rooms, a gym and aerobic studios. Provincial and national swimming competitions cannot be held in the north Galway region if we have a smaller pool.

Councillor Séamus Quinn whose daughter worked in the existing Tuam pool has called for state of the art wheelchair access to the pool. I support him on this. Tuam has been highlighted as a disadvantaged area by the recent ADM report and it is now part of the RAPID programme which aims to accelerate development in disadvantaged towns. The development of a new pool in Tuam is an approved project which should be prioritised and progressed immediately under this programme. We want Tuam swimming pool to be an excellent facility. Whatever has to be done should be done and it is crucial to have the six lanes for the success of the leisure project. I plead with the Minister to give Tuam the same leisure facilities as any other town in the country.

The preliminary report in respect of the pool in Tuam was approved in March 2002. My Department is currently awaiting the contract documents for the project to be submitted by Galway County Council. The proposal will be considered further on receipt of this documentation. Should Galway County Council wish to provide a six lane swimming pool in Tuam, it should bear in mind that this will add to the cost of the project and that, as already pointed out, there is a maximum grant available from my Department and that the balance of the cost of the project will have to be met by the local authority.

The dimensions of the standard pool, as outlined in my Department's procedures for the planning, approval and financing of swimming pools and technical guidelines, specify a length of 25 metres and a width of nine metres. A pool of nine metre width, normally accommodates five swimming lanes.

This Government has, to use the well known phrase, put its money where its mouth is in support of sport. Our commitment to the development of sport and, in particular, to the provision of sporting and recreational facilities has been demonstrated in very practical terms in all parts of the country. As Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism I have secured significant increases in the funding for capital expenditure for this purpose. These increased provisions include an increase of over 800% in the overall budget for sport from €17.4 million in 1997 to €61.4 million in 2002; a fourfold increase in the annual provision for the swimming pool programme from €3.8 million in 1999 to a total of €57 million for the years 2000, 2001 and 2002; allocations under the national lottery funded sport capital programme increased from €7.6 million in 1998 to €78.6 million in 2002, an increase of over 900% and an allocation of €7.55 million towards the development of Ireland's first ever 50 metre swimming pool in Limerick, which is due to open in the next few months. In that context I pay tribute to the previous Minister, Deputy McDaid.

I am anxious that the substantial investment of taxpayers' money by this Government provides value for money by ensuring that attractive, viable facilities are built. I believe that the increased levels of grant aid now available will be a major boost to local authorities in the development of swimming pools. Swimming is a sport in which most people can participate from a very early age throughout their entire lives. It is a basic, natural and efficient way of taking exercise. The national survey of involvement in sport and physical activity showed that swimming was second only to walking as the most popular form of physical and recreational activity.

It is estimated that around 425,000 people participate in swimming throughout the country. Among leisure and recreational activities it is generally considered to be one of the best and most enjoyable forms of physical exercise for developing and maintaining high levels of physical fitness. It is vital that the promotion of sport and the development of facilities, such as swimming pools, is carried out in a strategic and focused way. This means establishing priorities, avoiding overlaps and ensuring full access to available facilities. Under the swimming pool programme, the development of pools for the future will be done in a structured and focused way, concentrating on areas of greatest need.

Again I thank Senator Kitt for raising this issue and assure him that this Government will remain vigilant in providing funding for modern swimming pool facilities around the country.