Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 205: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when it is expected that necessary funding will be provided for the provision of a swimming pool at Leixlip, County Kildare, with particular reference to the population expansion in the area and the recreational need accruing therefrom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33698/11]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The current round of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme was closed to new applicants on 31 July 2000 and no application was made in respect of a public swimming pool for Leixlip before that date.

Under the current round of the programme, 58 applications were received, of which 46 projects have been completed and opened to the public, and 12 other projects are at various stages of development. 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 €146.21m million and this has leveraged a total investment of some €412m in respect of swimming pools throughout the country. A sum of €6.65m was allocated to the programme in 2011.

No decision has been taken on the timing of a new round of the programme. If the programme re-opens it would be open to each Local Authority, including Kildare County Council on behalf of Leixlip, to submit an application under the terms that will apply.