Brendan Ryan (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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223. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the national strategy for swimming has been completed; if a review of the provision of swimming pools publicly and privately owned across the country has been completed; if so, if applications for grant aid for the provision of swimming pools will be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48495/18]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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As outlined in Action 20 of the National Sports Policy 2018-2027, my Department will work closely with relevant Government Departments, Local Authorities, sporting bodies and other stakeholders to agree a coherent national strategy for swimming. As part of this, we will review swimming pool provision to identify where gaps exist and how these can be met.       

The development of a national swimming strategy will be considered in the first instance by the Sports Leadership Group, which is currently being established and will hold its inaugural meeting in the coming weeks. It is not possible to provide at this stage a precise timescale for the completion of this strategy but I would be confident that significant progress is achievable during the course of 2019.

In relation to future capital support for swimming pools, earlier this week, Minister of State Brendan Griffin and I announced details of the new Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF).  The fund is open to applications from National Governing Bodies of Sport and Local Authorities. The scheme encourages multi-functional sports facilities and proposals for funding swimming pools will be considered under the scheme. The full terms and conditions of the LSSIF are available on my Department's website.