David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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20. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to reinstate the local authority swimming pool programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36795/14]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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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 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.