Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 415: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10304/11]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Under the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme, which is administered by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport grant aid to a maximum of €3.8 million is provided to Local Authorities towards the capital costs of new swimming pools or the refurbishment of existing pools, subject in both cases to the total grant not exceeding 80% of the eligible cost of the project or, in the case of projects located in disadvantaged areas, 90% of the eligible cost. Proposals must comply with the standards set out in the Department's "Procedures for the Planning, Approval and Financing of Swimming Pools and Technical Guidelines."

Under the Guidelines 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. 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 Transport, Tourism and Sport.

A Preliminary Report was approved for the refurbishment of Buncrana swimming pool in April 2005, leaving Donegal County Council to proceed to the next stage, which is the preparation of Contract Documents. I understand Contract Documents should be ready for approval in February 2012.