asked the Minister for Local Government the position with regard to the programme for the provision of swimming pools.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Swimming Pools.
70.
A total of 59 proposals for the provision of swimming pools by, or with financial assistance from, local authorities have been approved since 1967 under the programme for provision of swimming pools. Forty-eight of these, in the following locations, were approved in the period up to last May:— Askeaton, Athlone, Ballina, Ballinasloe, Ballyhaunis, Ballyshannon, Birr, Bunclody, Bundoran, Carlow, Carrignavar in County Cork, Clara and Clonmel; A municipal pool and a pool at North Monastery School in Cork city; Ballyfermot, Ballymun, Coolock, Crumlin, Finglas and Townsend Street in Dublin city; Ballinteer, Clondalkin, Stillorgan (Glenalbyn), St. Mary's Cabra and St. Vincents, Navan Road in Dublin county; Drogheda, Dún Laoghaire (Monkstown), Ennis and Fermoy; Salthill and Holy Family School, Renmore in Galway city; Kilkenny, Limerick, Mallow, Monaghan, Mullingar, Naas, Navan, Nenagh, New Ross, Portlaoise, Roscommon, Thurles, Tipperary, Tralee, Tuam and Wexford.
Eighteen of these pools have been completed and sixteen are under construction.
I recently approved of proposals for another municipal pool in Cork city and for pools at Athy, Edenderry and Shannon.
I have also asked that steps be taken so that pools in the following seven locations, for which I have given approval in principle, can be provided as soon as possible:—Kingstown and Avoca School in Blackrock, County Dublin, Carrick-on-Shannon, Castlebar, Claremorris, Cobh, Letterkenny and Portarlington.
Could I ask the Minister what spleen he has against the people of Rathmines, and what is the population of Rathmines compared with the population of these small places where he is providing swimming pools?
I would have the Deputy know that in what he has called small places—and I think it is an insult to the towns I have called out—the voluntary committees there have collected a sum of money equal to roughly 20 per cent of the total cost of building these pools. The Deputy who has been promoting here the idea of building a swimming pool in Rathmines, but obviously nowhere else, could himself set up a voluntary committee and start collecting the funds, as some of these small towns around the country have done, and then the proposal might make some progress. Dublin Corporation have adopted their own swimming pool programme and these pools are being provided out of public funds. The proposals submitted to me by Dublin Corporation are the only ones I can seriously consider in Dublin.
Arising out of this long oration by the Minister, could I point out that the land for the Rathmines swimming pool was provided 50 years ago and is a great deal more valuable than the amount that has been collected in these various places the Minister has spoken about?
We now know that Labour Party policy is opposed to the provision of swimming pools in small towns throughout Ireland.
71.
asked the Minister for Local Government the present position regarding the application for an amenity scheme grant for a swimming pool in Sneem, County Kerry.
The operation of the amenity grants scheme has been devolved to the local authorities who, subject to the works coming within the scope of the scheme, are responsible for selecting and supervising the execution of projects. I understand that an amenity scheme for Sneem, which included provision of a children's paddling pool, was under consideration by Kerry County Council but that they are not undertaking this scheme in the current year. A swimming pool would not be eligible under the amenity grants scheme, as there are separate financial arrangements for swimming pools.