Vol. 482 No. 2
78 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the application, if any, for grant aid and sanction to borrow funds for the regional sports centre in Athlone, County Westmeath which has been received from Athlone Urban District Council; if so, when this request was received; his response, if any, to date to this application; the reason for the long delay in responding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17491/97]
An application from Athlone Urban District Council for a grant of £200,000 as a token towards the overall cost of a swimming pool as part of the Athlone regional sports centre was received in my Department in December 1992. Plans for the proposed swimming pool together with a request for an increased grant of £500,000 were subsequently received in February 1997. Additional information requested by my Department was provided by the council in May and August 1997.
There is a provision of £3.5 million in my Department's Vote for 1997 for the construction and refurbishment of swimming pools. This provision is fully committed to projects under construction or fully approved and on which work is shortly due to commence. Having regard to the high level of demand for swimming pool proposals generally it is not possible to indicate when funding may be approved for the Athlone swimming pool.
No formal application for loan approval to part fund the project has been received in my Department.
