Vol. 535 No. 1
75 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he will make a statement on the progress made to date with regard to the construction of the 50 metre swimming pool for Limerick, promised in An Action Programme for the Millennium. [11976/01]
567 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the progress of the national 50 metre swimming pool; when it is now likely to be operational; the conditions or requirements regarding the date of operation in the tender procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11602/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 75 and 567 together.
The Government, in line with the commitment given in the joint programme, An Action Plan for the Millennium, decided in November 1997, to initiate a tender procedure inviting proposals for the design, financing, construction and management of a national 50 metre swimming pool.
This tender procedure, which was conducted in accordance with EU Council Directive 93/37/EEC, concerning the co-ordination of procedures for the award of public works contracts, culminated, in July last year, with the selection of a proposal submitted by the University of Limerick to develop a 50 metre swimming pool on their campus.
Conditions of invitation and participation stated: ". . . The construction period for the facility shall preferably be 15 months from the date of agreement between the promoter and a consortium. A longer period will be considered in light of submitted proposals . . .".
76 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if, in regard to the commitment given in the Review of an Action Programme for the Millennium, he will give the total amount allocated to date to local authorities for refurbishment of existing swimming pools and construction of new pools; the number of new pools constructed; the number of pools refurbished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11977/01]
In giving effect to the commitment outlined in the review of An Action Programme for the Millennium I have secured £45 million funding for an accelerated programme of investment over the three year period 2000-02 in the refurbishment and provision of new pools under the local authority swimming pool programme. The package effectively increased the annual budget from £3 million per annum to £15 million per year over these three years.
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 consideration to progressing each proposal to the next stage, in the context of funding available.
A total of 51 proposals were submitted to my Department by local authorities under this accelerated swimming pool programme by last year's closing date of 31 July 2000. Decisions have been made in the case of five proposals and there are now 46 proposals on hand. Some 26 of these proposals relate to the construction of new or replacement pools while a further 20 relate to the refurbishment of existing pools. All of these proposals are at various stages of the approval process.
