Ulick Burke
Question:273 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the reason for the delay in progressing the Tuam swimming pool project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6938/02]
Written Answers. - Swimming Pool Projects.
Paul Connaughton
Question:276 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the position regarding an application for the development of the swimming pool at Tuam, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6941/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 273 and 276 together.
Under the local authority swimming pool programme which is administered by my Department, there are four stages in a swimming pool project following an initial submission and approval of a feasibility study. These, in order of progress, are: preliminary report stage; contract document stage; tender stage and construction stage.
My Department's technical advisers, the Office of Public Works – OPW – evaluate each stage and local authorities cannot proceed to the next stage of a project unless prior approval issues from my Department. Grant aid is allocated only when tenders have been received for the project and will be capped at the time of allocation.
In the case of the proposed replacement pool for Tuam, the position is that the final documentation relating to the preliminary report was provided to the Department in December 2001. Assessment of this documentation, in consultation with my Department's technical advisers, is now nearing completion and the local authority will shortly be advised of the outcome.