Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 39: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the efforts he is making to promote water sports here and to encourage the holding of competitive water sports and international events at the National Aquatic Centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40823/06]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish Sports Council was set up as a statutory body in July 1999 with responsibility for the development of sport, increasing participation at all levels and raising standards. The Sports Council provides funding to recognised National Governing Bodies (NGBs) including Swim Ireland, the national governing body for swimming and associated aquatic sports.

Since 1999, Swim Ireland has received over €3.6 million in funding from the Irish Sports Council, with grants of €804,500 in 2006. Of the money allocated to Swim Ireland in 2006, core funding of €463,500 was given to fund the delivery of its strategy in the areas of swimming, water polo and diving; €255,000 was targeted at high performance; and €86,000 was paid under the International Carding Scheme, which provides direct support in terms of grant-aid and indirect support in terms of sport science and medical backup to elite and top aspiring athletes. In addition to this funding, Swim Ireland has also received €141,000 since 2005 under the Women in Sport initiative.

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 local authority.

The priority under the current round of this Programme is to continue to support those projects remaining to be completed. Of the 57 projects being dealt with, 23 projects have been completed, with a further 15 under construction or about to begin construction throughout the country. The total investment in these 38 projects is over €307 million and my Department is providing grant aid of some €128 million. The remaining 19 projects are at various stages in the programme — 5 at tender stage, 8 at contract document stage and 6 at preliminary report stage. My Department is currently finalising an expenditure review of this programme. On completion of this review, the question of re-opening the programme can be considered. If the Pool Programme is re-opened, it will be open to all local authorities to submit applications under the terms that will apply.

As regards the National Aquatic Centre, it is the first facility to be developed at the Campus of Sports Facilities at Abbotstown and was opened in 2003. In addition to public access to the facilities, an arrangement is in place whereby some 1,300 hours of free usage of the Centre is provided to Swim Ireland and its affiliates for the training needs of our elite swimmers, and whereby access is given to many local groups through programmes organised by the Fingal Sports Partnership.

The National Aquatic Centre is a world-class facility which has successfully hosted a number of competitive and international events including the swimming events of the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games in June 2003; and the European Short Course Swimming Championships in December 2003 and I would hope that other major events are held there in the future. The latter event, received support of €350,000 under Fáilte Ireland's International Sports Tourism Initiative. It is primarily a matter for Swim Ireland as the governing body for the sport of swimming to decide on the locations for its national and international events.