Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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272. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there are plans to introduce a public swimming pool in Carrickmacross, County Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4683/18]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, 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. 

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. No request was received from Monaghan County Council for a new swimming pool.

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.