Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 216: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of public swimming pools that have received capital funding under the lottery grant scheme for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5957/06]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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Grant assistance from Exchequer sources is provided towards the capital cost of the "wet facilities" in a new, replacement or refurbished public pool under the local authority swimming pool programme. Under the national lottery-funded sports capital programme, which is administered by the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, it is open to local authorities to apply for funding for "dry facilities" which are ancillary to the pools or for a range of other sporting and leisure facilities to combine with the pool to create a municipal multi-sport centre. The local authority swimming pool programme provides for a maximum grant level of 80% of eligible costs, or 90% in the case of disadvantaged areas, subject to a maximum of €3.8 million.

Since 2001, grant aid has been approved for 23 swimming pool projects, of which nine have been completed and are open and 14 are under construction or about to start construction. In 2002, grant aid of €3,809,214 was approved for replacement pools at Ballinasloe and Finglas. In 2003, grant aid of €86,400 was approved for the refurbishment of the pool at Tralee aquadome, grant aid of €3,809,214 was approved for the refurbishment of the pool at Tralee sports and leisure centre, grant aid of €3,809,214 was approved for a new pool at Grove Island in Limerick and grant aid of €1,641,934 was approved for the refurbishment of the pool at Clonmel.

In 2004, grant aid of €3,809,214 was provided for the refurbishment of the pool at Churchfield in Cork city, replacement pools in Tuam, Ballymun, Cobh, Ballyfermot, Drogheda and Letterkenny and new pools at Youghal and Jobstown. In 2005, grant aid of €3,809,214 was provided for replacement pools in Monaghan and Clondalkin, a replacement outdoor pool in Askeaton and new pools at Ballybunion and Killarney. In 2006, grant aid of €3,809,214 was provided for replacement pools in Portlaoise and Longford and the refurbishment of the pool at Portarlington.

Funding under the national lottery funded sports capital programme has been allocated to sports centres connected to 15 pools since 1999. Some €2 million has been allocated in Ballyfermot, €634,869 has been allocated in Ballymun, €300,000 has been allocated in Birr, €400,000 has been allocated in Churchfield, €450,000 has been allocated in Cobh, €185,000 has been allocated in Dundalk, €640,000 has been allocated in Dundrum, €83,092 has been allocated in Enniscorthy, €5,363,422 has been allocated in Finglas, €1.5 million has been allocated in Killarney, €2,539,476 has been allocated in Letterkenny, €850,000 has been allocated in Monkstown, €634,869 has been allocated in Portlaoise, €342,829 has been allocated in Tullamore and €500,000 has been allocated in Youghal.