Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 1050: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the remaining projects on the swimming pool list are viable projects; if matching funds are available; his views on the possibility of a complete review of those remaining projects; if that would allow further projects to be added to the scheme; if so, the stage when further projects can be added; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23210/11]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 1052: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the swimming pools remaining on the swimming pool list; the stages they are at; the estimated cost of developing same; if matching funds are available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23212/11]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1050 and 1052 together.

Since 2000, 58 projects have been or are being dealt with under the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme. Of these, 46 have been completed and 4 have passed Tender Report stage, Loughrea, Co. Galway, New Ross, Co. Wexford, Ballybofey, Co. Donegal and Loughlinstown, Co. Dublin. 8 other projects are at various stages of the Programme. 4 projects are at contract documents stage, Buncrana, Co. Donegal, Castlebar, Co. Mayo, Dunmanway, Co. Cork and Clara, Co. Offaly. 3 projects are at Preliminary Report stage, Edenderry, Co. Offaly, Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon and Balbriggan, Co. Dublin. 1 project is at Tender Document stage, De Paul, Navan Road, Dublin.

The Department provides grant aid to local authorities towards the cost of building new pools or refurbishing existing ones. The success of the Programme therefore depends on local authorities' ability to progress the projects through the various stages. The local authority is then also responsible for building the pool. The viability of the remaining 12 pools in the process is therefore subject to constant review between the local authority and the Department. A measure of the viability of the remaining pools in the current programme can be seen from the fact that already this year the project at Clara has had its Preliminary Report approved, De Paul has had Contract Documents approved and 2 projects (Ballybofey and Loughlinstown) have had Tender Reports approved and the maximum grant of €3.8m allocated allowing construction to commence.

It is not intended to add any further projects to the present 12 pools remaining under the current round of the Programme, and no decision has been made in regard to the timing of a new round of the Programme. No project is being delayed on the basis of the Department's ability to meet its commitments under the Programme and there is sufficient funding in the subhead to meet all commitments arising in 2012.

At Tender Report stage, the local authority's funding package for the project is examined in the Department to ensure that there is sufficient Local Authority matching funds, outside of the grant available from the Department to the Local Authority, to complete the project. Information is set out hereunder in tabular form on the estimated cost of developing the 4 projects out of the remaining 12 in the Programme that have reached Tender Report stage. In the case of the other 8 projects, the information on estimated total cost and grantee matching funds will only become available to the Department when the Tender Report stage is reached.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 1051: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the swimming pool projects that have been completed under the scheme that was closed to applicants in 2000; the location of these projects; the cost of each project; the amount of matching funds that were provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23211/11]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The information sought by the Deputy in relation to the 46 swimming pools completed under the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme and opened to the public is provided hereunder in tabular form.