Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 29: To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport if she will increase the capital grants for local authorities for the provision of swimming pools [30474/10]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 31: To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport when the local authority swimming pool programme will be reopened; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36694/10]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 31 together.

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. Under the current programme which closed for applications in 2000, 46 pools have been opened throughout the country with a further 11 pools at various stages of development. The total expenditure of €144.9m under the Programme from 2000 to date has leveraged a total investment of some €406m in swimming pools throughout the country.

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. No decision has been taken on the timing of a new round of the Programme. The question of funding a new round of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme will be considered in the Annual Estimates for 2011 and beyond, which are currently underway.