Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 430: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his plans to reopen the local authority swimming pool fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32458/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The current round of the Programme, has made noteworthy progress when consideration is given to the lead in time in the development of pool projects. Under the round, 36 projects have been completed and opened to the public, 9 other pools, which have been allocated funding, are under construction throughout the country and another 12 are at various stages of development. A total of €123.9m has been spent over the last 8 years under the Programme. Given the current budgetary constraints, it is not intended to launch a new round of the Programme at this time. The priority now is to work with the Local Authorities in completing and bringing into use the remaining 21 pools in the programme.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 431: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the reason a proposal to build a community based swimming pool at Loughrea, County Galway has not progressed; if the funding of €1.7 million which was allocated by his Department is available for the project; the other matters obstructing the commencement of this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32485/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My Department has been in discussions now for a number of years with Galway County Council regarding the grant aiding of a swimming pool in Loughrea. The current position is that Galway County Council is proposing that it would supply a site to a local hotel developer who would construct the pool and in return would make the pool available to the public in Loughrea for an agreed number of hours per week and at entrance prices comparable to other public pools in Galway. As part of this plan the Council have applied to my Department for a grant of €1.7m from the swimming pool programme towards the construction of the pool.

In this regard a meeting recently took place between representatives of my Department, Galway County Council, the Chief State Solicitor's Office and the Office of the Attorney General to discuss some legal aspects of the grant. The current position is that we are awaiting a legal opinion on a number of issues and cannot proceed until we get this opinion.