Brendan Ryan (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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74. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the level of response to his letter to local authorities regarding a new round of the local authority swimming pools programme; the local authorities that have expressed an interest in the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22526/16]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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​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. Expressions of interest were received from 17 local authorities.

There were only three expressions of interest received for new pools, two of which were valid and both in Dublin. The third was from Kildare County Council for a pool in Maynooth but this was invalid as the local authority do not have title to the proposed site. 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. 

The list of the local authorities who submitted expressions of interest is as follows: Kilkenny County Council; Limerick City and County Council; Waterford County Council; Kildare County Council; Roscommon County Council; Cork City Council; Monaghan County Council; Clare County Council; Sligo County Council; Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council; Kerry County Council; Tipperary County Council; South Dublin County Council; Wicklow County Council; Cork County Council; Meath County Council; and Cavan County Council.