Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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465. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he plans to open the local authority swimming pool programme for new applications in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40241/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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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. 

In January of 2016, my Department contacted local authorities and sought expressions of interest in a limited round of swimming pool allocations. There were three expressions of interest received for new pools, two of which were valid and both in Dublin.

There are four projects in the current programme and the priority in 2017 is on progressing these projects.

In relation to the future funding of swimming pools, my Department is currently finalising 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.