Bernard J. Durkan
Question:39 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation his plans for the promotion of swimming here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26082/00]
Written Answers. - Swimming Promotion.
The Irish Sports Council is responsible for the promotion, development and co-ordination of sport in Ireland and provides annual grants to national governing bodies of sport, including Swim Ireland, the national swimming federation, to assist in its work for the advancement of swimming at all levels throughout the country. Meanwhile, the Government has approved a considerably accelerated programme of investment in refurbishment and provision of new pools under the local authority swimming pool programme.
In order to establish the extent of the work required, ILAM (Ireland), a consultancy firm specialising in sport facilities, was commissioned to prepare a report on the condition of local authority pools built between 1966 and 1981. Some 30 pools around the country were identified as being in need of refurbishment. I then secured a £45 million funding package for the swimming pool programme for the period 2000-02. As a result, funding available for the programme has increased from £3 million per annum to £15 million per annum in each of these years.
Following my announcement of the increased funding, local authorities were invited to submit proposals and a total of 51 such proposals were received in my Department by the closing date of 31 July 2000.
Under the swimming pool programme, grants of up to £3 million are available towards both the refurbishment of existing pools and the provision of new pools, subject in both cases to the total grant not exceeding 80% of the eligible cost of the project or, in the case of projects located in designated disadvantaged areas, 90% of the eligible cost. Support is available towards the swimming pool, toddler pool, sauna and steam room and ancillary accommodation that relates directly to the swimming pool. There are four stages in the approval process for a swimming pool project and my Department gives prompt consideration to progressing each proposal to the next stage, in the context of funding available.
The Government has also approved proceeding with the development of an aquatic and leisure centre at the Campus and Stadium Ireland site at Abbotstown. Construction work on this facility is expected to commence in mid 2001. Meanwhile, my Department has already committed a grant of just under £6 million towards the construction of a 50 metre swimming pool at Limerick University. Construction is progressing and the pool is scheduled for completion next year.
When the above programmes of investment are completed, they will together provide a range of high quality swimming facilities which will contribute considerably to the ongoing work of the Irish Sports Council and the national governing bodies in the development of the sport of swimming both on a competitive and leisure basis.