Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 322: To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport if moneys were granted under the local authority swimming pool programme to community organisations in 2009 and 2010; if so, the names of the organisations granted funding under this programme in 2009 and 2010; if applications for a new round of the programme are currently being accepted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26329/10]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The current round of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme, operated by the Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport provides grant aid to a maximum of €3.8m to Local Authorities, towards the capital cost of new swimming pools or the refurbishment of existing pools. Where a project is being undertaken by an organisation other than a local authority, the project must be considered, supported and submitted by the relevant local authority with which the Department then engages in the administration of the grant under the Programme. The current round of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme has been closed to new applicants since the 31 July 2000.

Under the current round of the programme, 57 applications were received, of which 45 projects have been completed and opened to the public, 2 are under construction, or about to start construction, and 10 other projects are at various stages of the programme. The priority now is to work with the relevant local authorities in completing the remaining 12 pool projects, which are included in the current round. Since the current round commenced in 2000, total expenditure to date has amounted to €144.08m million and this has leveraged a total investment of some €400m in respect of the 47 pools. The allocation of €7.5m in 2010 will be sufficient to meet commitments arising in 2010 under the current round of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme. The following payments made in 2009 and 2010 under the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme are shown hereunder in tabular form.

No decision has been taken on launching a new round of the Programme.