Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 1 May 2001

Vol. 535 No. 1

Written Answers - Swimming Pool Projects.

David Stanton

Question:

95 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the cost to the State of the proposed swimming pool projects in Cobh and Youghal, County Cork, respectively; when he expects to be in a position to make funding available for these projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12051/01]

Ned O'Keeffe

Question:

569 Mr. N. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the position regarding the provision of funding for a swimming pool for a town (details supplied) in County Cork. [11605/01]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 95 and 569 together.

It is not possible to give a cost to the State of the proposed swimming pool projects in Cobh and Youghal, County Cork as grant-aid is not allocated to any project until such time as tenders are received. In general, there are four stages in a swimming pool project – preliminary report stage, contract document stage, tender stage and construction stage. The Department's technical advisors evaluate each stage and local authorities cannot proceed to the next stage of a project, unless prior approval issues from this Department.

The current position with the replacement pool proposal in Cobh is that Cobh UDC were advised to seek tenders for the work involved and to submit a copy of the recommended tender to the Department for approval in due course. In relation to the pool proposal for Youghal, additional documentation recently received from the council in relation to the preliminary report will be forwarded to our technical advisers for assessment. The council will be informed when this assessment is complete. Under the swimming pool programme administered by my Department, 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.

Question No. 96 answered with Question No. 87.