Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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131. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when an application for grant aid for a swimming pool in north County Kildare is likely to be accepted and supported either through the sports capital programme or otherwise with particular reference to the need to accommodate the growing population in each of the main towns and adjoining in addition to an ever increasing student population; if negotiations have been advanced in respect of the previous project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38016/18]

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 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, one in Lucan and the other in Ballyogan. The third was for North Kildare but was not valid as the Council did not have title to the proposed site. 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.

Accordingly, there are now four swimming pool projects in the current LASPP and the priority in 2018 is on progressing these projects.

In relation to the future funding of swimming pools, the National Development Plan (NDP) confirms the establishment of a new Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). An initial amount of €100m has been provided in the plan for the period from 2019 to 2027.  It is intended that the Fund will be for larger projects where the proposed Government contribution exceeds the amount currently available for individual projects under the Sports Capital Programme. The fund will initially focus on the National Governing Bodies of Sport and Local Authorities. While the detailed terms and conditions of the new scheme are currently being finalised in my Department, it is envisaged that applications for new swimming pool projects will be accepted. An announcement in relation to when applications will be accepted will be made shortly.