Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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614. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport what counties responded to the request in January 2016 for expressions of interest in a limited round of swimming pool allocations, and the criteria or pre-conditions which were set for response to such expressions of interest; the timeframe which was set for the response; if there will be further limited rounds; the counties, if any, which were turned down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14341/16]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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On 20th January this year, my Department contacted local authorities and sought expressions of interest in a limited round of swimming pool allocations for the construction of new swimming pools and/or the refurbishment of existing pools, subject to funding becoming available from other projects where those projects would not be progressed. 

The local authorities were informed that they would be required to show inter-alia that they would have chargeable title to the proposed facility, would be able to progress the project without delay and that they would also need to show that the pool would serve an existing need for such a facility. They were also advised that:

- Local authorities would only be allowed to apply in respect of one pool project.

- Local authorities were required to indicate the expected realistic timeframe for drawdown of the grant.

- It was envisaged that only a modest number of grants will be allocated.

- Local authorities were asked to provide a written undertaking to meet any shortfall between the total project cost and any grant allocated.

The closing date for expressions of interest was 5 February. Local authorities from the following counties submitted expressions of interest:

Of the expressions of interest received, only three were for new pools, two of which were valid and both in Dublin, one in Lucan and the other in Ballyogan.  Having assessed existing commitments and the funding available, 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.