Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 537: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if consideration will be given for grant assistance towards the upgrade of the Sligo town base swimming pool. [24947/11]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Following discussions between my Department and the City and County Managers Association Community Social and Economic Committee, Minister Varadkar and I approved an initiative whereby grant aid towards the upgrading of energy and water conservation measures as well as disabled access enhancement, to a maximum total of €400,000, would be provided for Local Authority swimming pools.

This is not a new round of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme or a general refurbishment scheme for swimming pools.

An expression of interest was received in the Department from Sligo County Council on 1 June 2011 on behalf of Sligo Regional Sports Centre to upgrade the energy, water and enhanced disabled access. On 7 July the Department wrote to all local authorities, including Sligo County Council, to produce a more detailed application for funding by 29 July 2011.

A submission on behalf of Sligo Regional Sports Centre was received in the Department from Sligo County Council. This was assessed for a grant in accordance with the terms and conditions of the initiative, subject to the amount of funding available in the Department`s Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme subhead.

Unfortunately the Department did not have sufficient funds available to fund the Sligo Regional Sports Centre pool under this initiative. However if further funding becomes available in the short term the application will be reconsidered.