Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 385: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the reason there are no public swimming pools in the Dublin 5 area; and if he has plans in 2007 to develop sport and leisure centres on the northside of Dublin. [7216/07]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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Funding is provided by my Department to local authorities towards the capital costs of a new or replacement public swimming pool or the refurbishment of an existing pool under the terms of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme. The programme provides for a maximum grant level of €3.8million. 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.

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, the question of the location or operation of public swimming pools in any particular area is a matter for the relevant local authority.

The following table details the projects have been or are being dealt with in the Dublin area to date under the current round of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme.

The priority under the current round of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme is to continue to support those projects remaining within the programme. Of the 57 projects with the current round, 23 have been completed, 16 are under construction or about to start construction, 5 are out to tender and the remaining 13 are at various stages in the process.

My Department is completing an Expenditure Review of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme at present. 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 it is my intention to publish it as soon as possible. Following consideration of the recommendations in the review it is my intention to launch a new round of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme. When the Programme is re-opened, it will be open to all local authorities including South Dublin County Council to submit applications under the terms that will apply.

In relation to the development of other sports facilities in north Dublin, funding is allocated to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level under the Sports Capital Programme, which is administered by my Department. Applications under the programme must be related directly to the provision of sport and recreational facilities and be of a capital nature. While figures are not available on a sub-county basis, over €129.5 million in capital funding has been allocated to sports projects in County Dublin since 1998.

The Sports Capital Programme is advertised on an annual basis. Applications for funding under the 2007 programme were invited through advertisements in the press on 15 and 16 October last. The closing date for receipt of applications was 24 November 2006. All applications received before the deadline, including one from the organisation in question, are currently being evaluated against the programme's assessment criteria, which are outlined in the guidelines, terms and conditions of the programme. I intend to announce the grant allocations for the programme as soon as possible after the assessment process has been completed.