Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 243: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he or his Department will directly or indirectly offer financial support towards the building of swimming pools in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15441/05]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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Kildare County Council has applied for grant aid under the local authority swimming pool programme for the replacement of the existing swimming pools in Naas and Athy. In March this year, I approved the contract documents for the replacement of the pool in Naas and this approval allows the council to invite tenders for the work proposed. In the same month, I also approved the preliminary report for the replacement of the swimming pool in Athy and this approval allows the council to have detailed contract documents prepared for the project. Both projects will be considered further when the relevant documentation is submitted.

The programme has four principal stages in respect of a swimming pool project, which are, in order of progress: feasibility study-preliminary report; contract documents; tender; and construction. The Office of Public Works, which acts as technical adviser to my Department, evaluates each stage and local authorities cannot proceed to the next stage of a project unless prior approval issues from my Department. Grant aid is formally allocated when the tender for the project is approved.