Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 12 Nov 1997

Vol. 482 No. 6

Written Answers. - Swimming Pool Projects.

Michael Lowry

Question:

310 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the plans, if any, his Department has for the refurbishment of local authority swimming pools which are currently with his Department awaiting sanction; the date each proposal was received in his Department; the estimated cost of each project; the total funding available in 1997 for the refurbishment of local authority swimming pools; and the criteria used by his Department in deciding priority between the competing projects. [18491/97]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

There are a number of proposals for the refurbishment of local authority swimming pools awaiting sanction in my Department. The proposals are at various stages of planning. Having regard to the high level of demand for swimming pool proposals generally, it is not possible to say when approval for any of these proposals will issue. The detailed information requested by the Deputy in relation to the individual projects is set out in the following schedule.

There is a provision of £3.5 million in my Department's Vote for 1997 for the construction and refurbishment of swimming pools. This funding is committed to projects under construction or fully approved and on which work will shortly commence.

Each proposal for grant aid is examined with regard to need, cost, viability, construction and operational standards and availability of funding.

Schedule

Projects Awaiting Sanction

County	Project	Most Recent Cost Estimate	Date Proposal Received
		£
Galway	Ballinasloe	1,200,000	June, 1993
Kerry	Tralee (Phase 2)	917,000	March, 1996
Kildare	Athy (Phase 2)	1,061,000	February, 1996
Kildare	Naas (Phase 2)	1,765,000	February, 1996
Laois	Portarlington	75,000	August, 1996
Mayo	Castlebar	1,753,000	November, 1994
Meath	Navan	2,900,000*	March, 1995
Roscommon	Roscommon	1,500,000	July, 1994
Tipperary	Thurles	1,500,000	March, 1993
Wexford	Ferrybank	1,500,000	August, 1995

*The original refurbishment proposal for Navan swimming pool has been substituted by a proposal for the construction of a new pool.

Michael Lowry

Question:

311 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will give details of the local authority swimming pools refurbished in the past five years which were funded by his Department; the total cost of the refurbishment; and the amount of funding provided by his Department in each case. [18492/97]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table:

Local Authority	Project	Total Cost	Funding Provided
		£	£
Carlow Co. Cl.	Muinebheag (Bagenalstown)	72,300	72,300
Fermoy U.D.C.	Fermoy	1,738,592	1,447,229
Mallow U.D.C.	Mallow	1,851,266	1,715,600*
Letterkenny U.D.C.	Letterkenny	1,316,244	862,517
Donegal Co. Cl.	Ballyshannon	1,838,000	1,468,687*
Tralee U.D.C.	Tralee	53,528	53,528
Kildare Co. Cl.	Athy	26,573	26,573
Kildare Co. Cl.	Naas	22,059	22,059
Limerick Corp.	Roxboro	153,251	153,251
Offaly Co. Cl.	Birr, Clara and Edenderry	239,000	130,000*
Tipperary (N. R.)Co. Cl.	Nenagh	14,000	11,000
Tipperary (S. R.) Co. Cl.	Sean Treacy Swimming Pool	920,000	891,864*
Westmeath Co. Cl.	Mullingar	828,534	740,679*
Wexford Corp.	Ferrybank	60,900	60,900
Total		9,134,247	7,656,187

*Further moneys payable upon completion of projects and approval of final accounts.

Michael Lowry

Question:

312 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government when his Department will sanction the plans submitted by Thurles Urban District Council, County Tipperary for the refurbishment of a swimming pool; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18493/97]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

There is a preliminary proposal from Thurles Urban District Council before my Department for the refurbishment of Thurles swimming pool. The estimated cost of the work is £1.5 million. Having regard to the high level of demand for swimming pool proposals generally, it is not possible to indicate when approval will issue to the Thurles proposal.