Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 232: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the state of progress in regard to the reconstruction of Monaghan swimming pool; the proposed timescale for the completion of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16264/04]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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The contract documents for the provision of a replacement swimming pool in Monaghan town were submitted to my Department on 17 May 2004. This documentation is now being examined by my Department's technical advisers, the Office of Public Works. The proposal will be considered further when its report is received.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 233: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, further to Question No. 34 of 25 May 2004, the amount available in 2004 for the local authority swimming pool programme; the amount of this funding spent or committed to date and the projects involved, including the amount made available to each project; the amount not yet expended or committed; the plans he has to increase the amount available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16424/04]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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Further to my reply of 25 May 2004 referred to by the Deputy, a provision of €15 million has been made in my Department's Estimates to meet costs associated with the local authority swimming pool programme for 2004. The likely drawdown this year arising from grant commitments carried forward from earlier years and from the projects approved this year is estimated at €12 million which would, therefore, leave some €3 million available for possible drawdown this year against other projects yet to be approved.

The rate of drawdown in respect of each project varies in accordance with the speed at which the project proceeds. The normal timescale for pool construction is in the region of 18 months. Arising from the need for the assembly of properly documented claims by the project promoter and scrutiny of these by the Office of Public Works, the process of drawing down allocated funding invariably extends beyond the construction period. Thus my expectation would be that for projects approved this year the grant drawdown will extend into 2005 and beyond. In addition, 5% of grant aid is retained until the final account and architect's opinion on compliance with building regulations and planning permission is provided and found to be in order.

The following table outlines the position with regard to projects that have outstanding grant commitments in 2004:

Expenditure allocations for 2005 and later years will be determined in the course of the annual Estimates process.