James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 292: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the position regarding the application for grant approval for a swimming pool for a club (details supplied) in County Dublin; if he has made a decision to support this project which Fingal county manager has recently recommended to him; the conditions he will recommend to ensure the swimming pool facility is accessible to the general public from Balbriggan and nearby towns; the projected completion date if he issues a decision to support the Balbriggan-Balrothery project; if the necessary ancillary private funding is in place to bring the project to a successful conclusion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18534/09]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Under the current round of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme, the question of the location of public swimming pools is essentially a matter for local authorities. Projects are considered on a case-by-case basis and consideration is given to such issues as to whether the area is classified as disadvantaged, the number and geographical spread of projects within and between counties, the viability of the project, particularly in relation to operational and maintenance issues, overall funding package for the project, technical details and the Department's annual estimates provision for the Programme.

There are four principal stages in a swimming pool project following the submission of a feasibility study. These, in order of progress, are: Preliminary Report; Contract Documents; Tender and Construction. Grant-aid is allocated only when tenders have been approved for the project and is capped at the time of allocation. The Department and its technical advisors, the Office of Public Works, evaluate each stage and local authorities cannot proceed to the next stage of a project unless prior approval issues from the Department of Arts, Sport & Tourism. The Department has requested a Preliminary Report for the Balbriggan Swimming Pool and this is currently being examined by the OPW from a technical point of view. Once the project is acceptable to the OPW from a technical point of view I will then be in a position to approve the Preliminary Report allowing Fingal County Council to proceed to the next stage which is the preparation of Contract Documents.

Where a project is being undertaken by an organisation other than a local authority, the proposal must be considered, supported and submitted by the relevant local authority. Before supporting a project, the local authority would have to be satisfied that the proposal was viable, that the balance of funding required to complete the project was available and that the project, when completed, would have a satisfactory level of public access. The Local Authority is responsible for making satisfactory arrangements for the management and maintenance of the facility. I understand a joint venture company will be established between Balbriggan R.F.C and a private company to build and operate the pool. The public interest will be safeguarded by a Deed of Covenant and Charge being put in place between the joint venture company, Fingal County Council and the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, which would guarantee access to the public for an agreed number of hours at reasonable charges.

Progress of pools under the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme depends much on Local Authorities leading projects continuing to press ahead with construction on schedule and as indicated to the Department. Once the grant is approved at Tender Report stage and construction commences, pools generally take about eighteen months to complete. Before a grant is approved the Local Authority has to have a satisfactory funding package in place to ensure the project is completed.