Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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746.To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans for the development of a 50m swimming pool in Loughrea, east Galway; if a suitable site has been identified where such a complex could be built; and if she will make a statement on the matter.[35055/24]

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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My Department operates two capital funding programmes for sport, namely the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) and the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). Capital support for new swimming pools is currently being provided through the LSSIF. New swimming pool projects and the refurbishment of existing swimming pools were eligible to apply for grant funding under LSSIF 2024 subject to published guidelines and conditions of the scheme.

Minister Martin and I announced funding of up to €120 million under the new round of the LSSIF (LSSIF 2024) which closed for applications on the 1 July 2024.

Assessment of applications, for funding of between €600,000 and €30 million, will take into account such factors as population size, sustainability and ensuring that similar access is provided to accommodate access by men and women to LSSIF-funded facilities. The initial assessment of applications is now underway and it is clear that this round of the LSSIF has generated significantly more applications and a much higher volume of demand than the first round.

I understand that no application was received under LSSIF 2024 for a swimming pool in Loughrea.