Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 22: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he has received applications for grant aid for swimming pool developments since the current scheme closed prior to 2001; the locations by county; the way in which it is intended to deal with such applications in the absence of a new grants scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25632/06]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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The Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme, which is administered by my Department, 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, which now involves some 57 projects, was 31 July 2000.

A further 8 projects were submitted by local authorities after the 31st July, 2000 but were not valid as they were received after the final date for submission and therefore were not processed. These projects were located in Douglas and Mitchelstown in Cork City and County respectively, Kells and Trim in Co. Meath, Roxboro in Limerick City, Portnoo in Co. Donegal and Cloghran in Co. Dublin. One replacement project in Monaghan was accepted into the Programme after the closing date, as an exceptional measure, because it had to close for safety reasons in 2001 notwithstanding the fact that it was the only local authority pool in the county.

An Expenditure Review of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme which my Department is carrying out is examining, among other things, how the programme has worked to date and what changes, if any, are required to ensure its effective and efficient delivery. On completion of this Review, the question of re-opening the programme will be considered.