Liam Aylward
Question:20 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Education if a final decision has been made by the Government to proceed with the development of a 50 metre swimming pool; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9823/96]
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Swimming Pool Development.
A decision to proceed with the development of a 50-meter swimming pool has not been made by the Government.
As I have stated in previous replies to parliamentary questions a project of this scale requires very careful consideration because of the implications for Exchequer funding of the overall capital and operating costs involved, particularly in the context of the demand for funding for a wide range of other sports facilities. These questions are being considered in detail at present and a decision will be made as soon as possible.
I am disappointed with the Minister's reply. I had thought at this stage a decision would have been made on the 50-metre pool. What does the Minister intend to do with the proposal for an international swimming hall of fame, a worthwhile proposal which has been with his Department for some time? I understand the deadline has been extended on one occasion. A feasibility study was carried out in his Department and a recommendation made since 1994. I hope a decision will be made soon. Will he please clarify the position?
The Deputy, being my predecessor, should know as well as I do the circumstances behind this. The Deputy is right in saying a feasibility study was commissioned by the Department in November 1994 and has been with my Department for some considerable time. The terms of reference were that they should design and propose a facility that would be best suited to the Irish situation. They have brought forward a proposal and have identified Tallaght as the optimum site. The proposal was for a combination of a 50-meter pool plus a water leisure facility costing, at 1994 standards, about £17 million. The DISC proposal which he refers to was for an Olympic pool combined with a museum, an international swimming hall of fame, the estimated cost of which was £34 million. That proposal was almost identical to the proposal rejected by the Government of which the Deputy was a member in 1991 which was earmarked for the Custom House site. The decision will be made in the context of a 50-metre pool costing in the region of £20 million and will be earmarked for elite sportsmen and sportswomen. It will also have a community facility. It will have to be decided in the context of applications for other facilities which are with my Department. As of now there are applications totalling almost £500 million. There are 1,400 applications with my Department for grants totalling in excess of £48 million. I have to make a choice in the context of my budget. I had £4 million last year and I am pleased to say I have got a 50 per cent increase this year to £6 million. My priority is to deal with the communities, the grass roots of sport, the people who are keeping sport alive. We are dealing with organisations at national level which have credible projects and many community-based projects throughout the country. Certainly we recognise the need to deal with elite sportsmen and sportswomen and the decision will be made in that context. I have tried to give the background to the position.
I sympathise with the Minister of State. I know how difficult it is to get funding in that Department. Perhaps the senior Minister in the Department would make a special case with her Cabinet colleagues for the necessary finance for this 50-metre swimming pool. It is high time a decision was made one way or the other. Has the Minister had any contacts with the sports department in Northern Ireland to see whether it would co-operate in the provision of a 50-metre pool for the 32 counties? Has he explored the possibility of EU funding? It should be available. Could funding be raised through cross-Border co-operation schemes, which were mentioned earlier by the Taoiseach?
The former Cospóir and I had numerous useful meetings with the Northern Ireland Sports Council and identified areas of co-operation, including amalgamation of the coaching systems and accreditation. On co-operation on capital projects, we are exploring ways to pool our resources on projects in the Border areas and are looking at the Delors and INTERREG packages for that purpose. We commissioned a group to consider a 50 metre pool. With regard to Tallaght, which is regarded as the optimum site, I would find it difficult to draw down European funding for a project of that type there. The policy group set up under the chairmanship of Mr. John Treacy will look not only at facilities but at our approach to the use of facilities and at coaching. In its report expected in September it will give its view on the optimum use of facilities and resources. As the Deputy knows, all the national sporting governing bodies and organs have been consulted and I have also asked the group to consult every political party, so this will be a national policy document.
Could the Minister indicate the timescale in which he will make a decision? It is high time we decided one way or the other.
In 1991 the Deputy's Government made a decision not to proceed. We are attempting to use our resources to the optimum and in that context we are considering the 50 metre pool. I continually hear that private sector funding is available for a facility like this; if that is so, I would like to hear from the private sector and I have an open ear and mind on any proposals from the private sector related to joint ventures or private sector ventures.