Vol. 557 No. 5
179 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the position regarding funding from his Department as advised to Cork County Council in regard to the upgrading of the swimming pool at Dunmanway, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23012/02]
Under the local authority swimming pool programme, which is administered by my Department, there are four stages in a swimming pool project, following the submission and approval of a feasibility study. These, in order of progress, are: preliminary report, contract, documents, tender and construction. My Department's technical advisors, 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. Grant aid is allocated only when tenders have been approved for the project and will be capped at the time of allocation.
Under the programme, grants of up to a maximum of €3,809,214 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 cost of the swimming pool, toddler pool, sauna and steam room.
In the case of Dunmanway swimming pool, contract documents have been submitted by Cork County Council and assessed by Office of Public Works. Cork County Council should now, on the advice to my Department from Office of Public Works, appoint a company to operate the pool, as it previously advised it would. The council has been requested by my Department to conclude this appointment process and thus enable any revision of the contract documents to be carried out before they are approved by the Department. The proposal will be considered further, once this action has been taken.
