Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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475. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding he has provided and the locations in which funding has been provided for building or refurbishing swimming pools in each of the years 2011 to 2015 and to date in 2016; his plans to re-open the list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8076/16]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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​While no additional pools have been included in the main Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme (LASPP) during the 2011 to 2015 period, several of the existing LASPP projects progressed to the formal allocation stage during that time.  Those projects were:

2011 - Ballybofey/Stranorlar - €3.8m

2011 - Loughlinstown - €3.8m

2013 - De Paul Navan Road - €1.261m

2013 - Clara - €784,000

2015 - Dunmanway - €3.8m

2015 - Castlebar - €3.8m

More recently, in January of this year, the Department contacted local authorities and sought expressions of interest in a limited round of swimming pool allocations, subject to funding becoming available from other projects where those projects would not be progressed.  There were three expressions of interest received for new pools, two of which were valid and both in Dublin. Having assessed existing commitments and the funding available (including funding that will become available from withdrawn projects) it is considered prudent to progress an additional new pool project.  Following consideration of the expressions of interest, and the two valid proposals for new pools, I have included a proposal from South Dublin County Council (SDCC) for a new swimming pool in Lucan in the LASPP.  The Department will be in touch with SDCC regarding the next steps to be taken.

Details of the LASPP allocations under the special energy efficiency/enhanced disabled access initiatives from 2011 to 2015 inclusive can be found on the Department's website at the following link .