Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Offaly, Fine Gael)
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188. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of a project (details supplied) in County Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15584/17]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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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.  It should be noted that the maximum possible grant available under the LASPP is €3.8m. There are four stages in the development of a project under the programme, namely Preliminary Report, Contract Documents, Tender and Construction.

Edenderry is in the 2000 round of the LASPP for a refurbishment/replacement pool. Offaly County Council and representatives of the local Pool Committee which runs the pool met with officials from my Department in May 2016. At the meeting it was agreed that the Committee would look at revised plans to scale down the non-essential costs and revert to the Department with those plans.  The County Council and Committee were reminded that they also need to submit a more robust feasibility study. Revised plans were received by my Department last week and are currently being examined.

In relation to the future funding of swimming pools, my Department is currently undertaking a review of national sports policy which includes a specific focus on how Government should fund sports facilities including swimming pools in the years ahead.