Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 247: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism when it is intended to open a new round of applications for swimming pool facilities; the number of those applications made in the last round that remain to be funded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14133/06]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is carrying out an expenditure review of the local authority swimming pool programme, which is examining, among other things, how it has worked to date, the benefits which have accrued to the areas where pools have been built under the programme and what amendments, if any, are required to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of the programme. On completion of this review, the question of re-opening the programme will be considered.

The local authority swimming pool programme provides grant aid to local authorities in respect of the capital costs of a new swimming pool, a replacement pool or the refurbishment of an existing pool. The closing date for receipt of applications under the current round of this programme was 31 July 2000 and since then a total of 57 projects have or are being dealt with. Of the 57 projects within the programme, 18 have been completed and 14 pool projects are now under construction or are about to start construction. In addition, 25 other projects are at various stages in the programme: six at tender stage, 11 at contract document stage and eight at preliminary report stage.