Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1707. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on all public swimming pools by town and county; the new swimming pools that have been provided in the past ten years; the way they were funded; the proportion of funding that was from his Department; the funds available for new applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34076/14]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Under the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme 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. The current round of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme was closed to new applicants on 31 July 2000. Since 2000, 58 projects have or are being dealt with under the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme of which 49 have been completed and the other 9 projects are at various stages of the Programme.  Two of these projects (Clara and De Paul Navan Road) have been formally allocated a grant following Tender Report stage.  The other 7 projects, namely Castlebar, Dunmanway, Buncrana, Edenderry, Balbriggan, Ballaghadereen and Loughrea, are at various other stages of the programme. 

The maximum LASPP grant of €3.8m is subject 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.

No decision has been taken on any new round of the Programme. If the Programme re-opens it would be open to each Local Authority to submit an application under the terms that would apply at that time.

The following is the list of the 49 pools that have been completed.  

Arklow

Enniscorthy 

Navan 

Courtown/Gorey

Wicklow

Dundalk

Roscommon

Ennis

Tralee AquaDome

Ballinasloe

Finglas

Grove Island, Limerick

Tralee Sports and Leisure Centre 

Clonmel

Churchfield, Cork City

Ballymun

Tuam

Drogheda

Monaghan town

Cobh 

Youghal

Jobstown

Monaghan

Ballybunion

Birr

Letterkenny

Askeaton

Longford 

St. Joseph's School for Deaf Boys

Portarlington

Portlaoise 

Clondalkin

Thurles

St Michael's House, Dublin

Killarney

Bray

Ballyfermot

Greystones

Tullamore

Kilkenny City

Athy

Naas

Dundrum, Co. Dublin 

Claremorris

Roscrea 

Ferrybank

Loughlinstown

Ballybofey Stranorlar

New Ross.