Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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541. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of his Department's budget allocation for 2017 allocated to the local authority swimming pool grant. [4264/18]

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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542. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of his Department's budget allocation for 2018 that will be allocated to the local authority swimming pool grant. [4265/18]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 541 and 542 together.

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.

The budget allocation for 2017 for the programme was €4.2m, all of which was expended. The allocation for 2018 is also €4.2m.

There are four swimming pool projects in the current LASPP and the priority in 2018 will be on progressing these projects.

In relation to the future funding of swimming pools, the upcoming National Sports Policy, which I expect will be considered by Government during the first Quarter of 2018, with a view to its publication shortly thereafter, will include a specific focus on how Government should fund sports facilities, including swimming pools, in the years ahead.