Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 51: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the level of funding that has been made available for swimming pool projects in the Dublin area; the details of each project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34699/06]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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Under the current round of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme the following projects have been/are being dealt in the Dublin area to date:

My Department provides grant aid, under the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme, to local authorities towards the capital costs of a new or replacement public swimming pool or the refurbishment of an existing pool. Under the Programme, there are four stages in the development of a public swimming pool project. These are, in order of progress, Feasibility Study/Preliminary Report; Contract Documents; Tender and Construction. My Department's technical advisors, the Office of Public Works (OPW), evaluate each stage and prior approval is required before local authorities can proceed from one stage to the next. Grant aid is formally allocated when the tender for the project is approved.

The priority under the current round of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme 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, 22 projects have been completed, 15 other pools are under construction or about to begin construction. The remaining 20 projects are at various stages in the programme — 6 at tender stage, 7 at contract document stage and 7 are at preliminary report stage. I am happy to note that significant progress continues under the current round of the Programme. So far this year, I have approved 8 projects for grant aid and approved contract documents for 9 public pools.

My Department is completing an Expenditure Review of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme. The Review 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. The Review is currently being finalised and I would hope that it will be completed before the end of the year. On completion of this Review, the question of re-opening the Programme can be considered. If the Programme is re-opened, it will be open to all local authorities to submit applications under the terms that will apply.