Vol. 492 No. 4
313 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the position regarding the application for funding for further improvement of facilites at Castlebar swimming pool; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14610/98]
318 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he will make funds available for refurbishment of the swimming pool at Castlebar, County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14188/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 313 and 318 together.
Contract documents for the proposed refurbishment of Castlebar swimming pool were submitted to the Department of the Environment and Local Government in September 1996. However, formal approval of contract documents and permission to go to tender can only be given when the necessary funding for the project is available.
There is a provision in the Book of Estimates of £4 million in 1998 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 expected to commence shortly. In addition, there are over £44 million worth of projects at various stages of planning which are also seeking funding. In the circumstances, I am not able now to give approval to the proposals to refurbish the pool in Castlebar.
