Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 31 Jan 2001

Vol. 529 No. 2

Written Answers. - Swimming Facilities.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

164 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he has any proposals to improve conditions and facilities for competitive swimming; if he will bring standards up to modern international level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2731/01]

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation (Dr. McDaid)

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.

In relation to facilities for competitive swimmers, my Department has allocated 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 later this year. An annual operational grant of £190,000 will ensure pool access to meet the training needs of Ireland's high performance swimmers.

The Government has more recently approved proceeding the development of an aquatic and leisure centre at the Campus and Stadium Ireland site at Abbotstown, incorporating a full competition size 50-metre pool. Construction work on this facility is expected to commence this year with a view to completion in time for the Special Olympics which will be held in Dublin in 2003.

The Government has also approved a considerably accelerated programme of investment in refurbishment and provision of new pools under the local authority swimming pool programme. My Department now has £45 million funding for this programme over the three year period 2000-2002, effectively increasing the annual budget from £3 million per annum to £15 million over these three years. Local authorities have been invited to submit proposals and a total of 51 such proposals were received in my Department by the closing date of 31 July 2000. In assessing these proposals I will be having particular regard to a report commissioned from sports facility specialists ILAM Ltd. on the condition of pools constructed by local authorities between 1996 and 1981 and their finding that 30 pools are in need of specific refurbishment.

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.

I am confident that the foregoing programmes will result in a range of high quality swimming facilities which will complement the ongoing work of the Irish Sports Council, the National Coaching and Training Centre and the relevant national governing body in the development of the sport of swimming on both a competitive and leisure basis.