Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 322: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism when the necessary finance will be made available for the provision of a new swimming pool at Kilkenny City; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8841/06]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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Under the local authority swimming pool programme, there are four stages in the development of a swimming pool project. These are, in order of progress: feasibility study-preliminary report; contract documents; tender; and construction. My Department's technical advisers, the Office of Public Works, evaluate 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.

In March 2005, I approved the preliminary report for the proposed replacement swimming pool in Kilkenny submitted by Kilkenny County Council. This approval allowed the council to have detailed contract documents prepared for the work proposed. The matter will be considered further when the council submits the tender documentation for the project to my Department.