Written answers

Tuesday, 12 April 2005

Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism

Swimming Pool Projects

9:00 pm

Photo of Phil HoganPhil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 461: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism when finance will be made available for the construction of a new swimming pool at Kilkenny city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10149/05]

Photo of John O'DonoghueJohn O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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Kilkenny County Council applied for funding under the local authority swimming pool programme in respect of a proposed replacement swimming pool for Kilkenny. I am pleased to say I have recently approved the preliminary report for this project and this approval allows the council to have the contract documents prepared.

Under the local authority swimming pool programme, there are four stages in the swimming pool development process, including preliminary report, contract document, tender approval and construction. My Department's technical advisers, the Office of Public Works, OPW, evaluate each stage and local authorities cannot proceed to the next stage of a project unless prior approval issues from my Department.

Grants of up to a maximum of €3.8 million are available towards either the refurbishment of existing pools or the provision of new pools, subject in both cases to the total grant not exceeding 80% of the eligible cost of the project or, in the case of projects located in disadvantaged areas, 90% of the eligible cost. Grant aid is not formally allocated until the tenders have been approved for a project.

Projects are considered on a case-by-case basis and consideration is given to such issues as whether the area is classified as disadvantaged, the number and geographical spread of projects within and between counties, the viability of the project, particularly in regard to operational and maintenance issues, overall funding package for the project, the limits on local authority borrowing technical details and the Department's annual Estimates provision for the programme.

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