Ulick Burke
Question:442 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the position regarding funding of a proposed swimming pool in Loughrea, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28556/01]
Written Answers. - Swimming Pool Projects.
Under the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme, 2000-2002 administered by my Department, there are four stages in a swimming pool project. These, in order of progress, are preliminary report; contract document; tender and construction. My Department's technical advisers, the Office of Public Works, evaluate each stage and local authorities cannot proceed to the next stage of a project unless prior approval issues from my Department.
Galway County Council submitted a proposal on behalf of Loughrea Swimming Pool Company Limited to my Department in relation to a proposed new pool at Loughrea. My Department has approved the appointment of consultants for the preliminary report stage of this proposal. Further consideration will be given to the proposal when the preliminary report is submitted by the council. Grant-aid is not allocated to any project until such time as tenders for the project have been received.
Grants of up to £3 million are to be made 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. These revised grant levels will operate to the end of the current three year programme in 2002.
Ulick Burke
Question:443 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the position regarding funding of the proposed swimming pool in Ballinasloe, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28557/01]
Under the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme, 2000-2002 administered by my Department, there are four stages in a swimming pool project. These, in order of progress, are preliminary report; contract document; tender and construction.
My Department's technical advisers, the Office of Public Works, evaluate each stage and local authorities cannot proceed to the next stage of a project unless prior approval issues from my Department.
In December last, Ballinsasloe UDC submitted a preliminary report to my Department for a replacement for Ballinasloe pool. This preliminary report was approved by my Department last May and approval to proceed to contract document stage was given. Contract documents received from Ballinasloe UDC are being assessed by the Office of Public Works. My Department will be in contact with the local authority when this assessment has been finalised.
Grants of up to £3 million are to be made 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. These revised grant levels will operate to the end of the current three year programme in 2002.