Tom Neville (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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842. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when an application under the sports capital programme will be processed for a leisure centre (details supplied). [12506/16]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I am not aware of any application having been received under the Sports Capital Programme for Askeaton Pool and Leisure Centre, Askeaton, Co. Limerick. However, an application for that facility has been received under the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme (LASPP).

The Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme (LASPP) provides grant aid to local authorities towards the capital costs of new swimming pools or the refurbishment of existing pools. Askeaton Swimming Pool was included in the 2000 round of the LASPP and received the maximum grant of €3.8m for a replacement pool which was officially opened in August 2007.

In January of this year, my 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.

Prior to the closing date for expressions of interest Limerick City & County Council contacted my Department to enquire about the nature of the projects likely to be funded and mentioned that Askeaton Pool and Leisure Centre required remedial works. Limerick CCC was informed that the intention was to fund new pools in locations where no pool currently existed and there was a very significant demand for a pool. Limerick CCC was also informed that, given that Askeaton Pool was already included in the 2000 round of the programme and had received the maximum grant of €3.8m, it was unlikely that any further funding would be provided to it. Limerick CCC subsequently submitted an expression of interest for remedial works for Askeaton Pool.

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 Having assessed existing commitments and the funding available, including funding that will become available from withdrawn projects, it was considered prudent to progress one additional new pool project at this time. Following consideration of the expressions of interest, and the two valid proposals for new pools, it was decided to include the proposal from South Dublin County Council (SDCC) for a new swimming pool in Lucan in the LASPP.​