Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 189: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he has schemes through which a plan could be developed to take over a swimming pool which has been an enormous asset to the community but in which the religious order which own it wish to divest its interest, with the possible participation in that plan of local swimming pool clubs, local schools and the local authority (details supplied). [12761/06]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 190: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if it is the policy of the Government to allow swimming pools, valuable community facilities, to close in order to make way for the development of apartments; if the proposed closure of a swimming pool (details supplied) in Dublin 5 will be investigated; if the people who have been swimming there for over 27 years will be supported; and the amount of public money which was given to this pool over the years. [12332/06]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 189 and 190, together.

The swimming pool in question was built, I understand, by a religious order and while privately owned and operated by it, has been open to the public. I also understand that the pool receives some financial support from Dublin City Council. Under the local authority swimming pool programme, my Department provides grant aid to local authorities towards the capital costs of a new or replacement public swimming pool or the refurbishment of an existing pool. The programme provides for a maximum grant level of 80% of eligible costs, 90% in the case of disadvantaged areas, subject to a maximum of €3.8 million. Where a project is being undertaken by an organisation other than a local authority, the proposal must be considered, supported and submitted by the relevant local authority. Before supporting a project, the local authority would have to be satisfied that the proposal is viable, that the balance of funding required to complete the project is available and that the project, when completed, would have a suitable level of public access. Consequently, questions relating to the location or operation of a public swimming pool should be directed towards the relevant local authority.

The priority under the current round of the local authority swimming pool programme, which is administered by my Department and where the deadline for submission of applications was 31 July 2000, is to continue to support those projects remaining to be completed. Of the 57 projects being dealt with, 32 have been grant aided, of which 18 have been completed, leaving 14 under construction or about to begin construction. The remaining 25 projects are at various stages in the programme — six tender stage, 11 at contract document stage and eight at preliminary report stage. I am pleased that activity under the programme has increased considerably as evidenced by the results for 2005 and 2006 to date where I approved: grant aid for eight projects which permits the project developers to proceed with placing the contracts and having the work commence; contract documents for 12 projects allowing them to invite tenders for the projects; preliminary reports for nine projects which permit the preparation of contract documents.

My Department is carrying out an expenditure review of the programme, which is examining, among other things, the number and nature of projects supported and what amendments, if any, are required to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of the programme. On the completion of this review, which I expect will be available by mid-year, the question of re-opening the programme to new applications by local authorities will be considered.