In June 1998 my Department allocated a grant of approximately £280,000 towards refurbishment work at Monaghan swimming pool. This grant was subsequently increased to £300,000 in November 1999 to provide for additional works that were deemed necessary. This grant has not yet been drawn down in full as a final account in relation to these works, required to facilitate the payment of the balance of grant outstanding, is awaited from the local authority concerned.
I had been aware for some time of the need for improved swimming facilities around the country. To address this, the Government 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 2000-02, effectively increasing the annual budget from the £3 million per annum provided by the previous government to £15 million over these three years.