Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 534: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the amount of the €184 million committed under the National Development Plan 2007 to 2013 that will be required or the maximum that could be required to complete the current round for swimming pool grant aided works; if it is anticipated that all applicants will proceed to construction; when it is envisaged the current round will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23184/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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A sum of €184 million has been provided under the National Development Plan 2007 — 2013 to complete existing commitments under the current round of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme, closed since 31 July 2000, and to launch a new round of the programme. Under the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme, which is administered by my Department, grant aid is provided to local authorities towards the capital costs of a new or replacement public swimming pool or the refurbishment of an existing pool provided by local authorities themselves or by other bodies where the application for capital funding is supported by the local authority. Under the Programme there are four stages in a swimming pool project. These, in order of progress, are: Feasibility Study/Preliminary Report; Contract Documents; Tender and Construction. Local authorities may not proceed to the next stage of a project until prior approval issues from my Department. Grant aid is only formally allocated when the tender is approved. The Department's technical advisers, the Office of Public Works, evaluates each stage.

Of the 57 projects within the current round, 45 have been formally approved grant aid, of which 34 have been completed and 11 are under construction or about to start construction. Two projects are out to tender and ten are at earlier stages in the process. Some €37.4 million was paid out between January 2007 and May 2008, the period covered by the €184 million allocated under the national development plan to date. Commitments of €23.3 million have been entered into to cover the 11 projects formally approved grant aid but not yet paid. On the basis that the 12 remaining projects at earlier stages in the process will proceed to completion, and each receives the maximum grant of €3.8 million, a total of some €45.6 million will be required to complete this round. Projects under the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme can be completed if the local authorities which are leading the projects continue to press ahead with construction on schedule. Projects, once they reach construction stage, take about 18 months to complete. As it takes a long time to get projects to the construction stage, however, it is difficult to say when all projects under the current round will be completed.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 535: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the amount spent since 2000 to date in 2008 by his Department on the swimming pool construction and refurbishment programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23185/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The total amount of money spent under the programme between 2000 and the end of May 2008 is €120.2 million.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 536: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism when it is intended to publish the Value for Money and Policy Review Report on the local authority swimming pool programme which has been completed for some time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23186/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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A Value for Money and Policy Review Report of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme has been completed by my Department. The Report examined, among other things, how the programme has worked to date and what changes are required to ensure its effective and efficient delivery in the future. The recommendations in the report will be used to assist in formulating future policy in this area and will be incorporated into any new round of the programme. The report will be published shortly.