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 of a feasibility study. These, in order of progress, are: preliminary report; contract documents; tender and construction. My Department's technical advisers, the Office of Public Works, evaluates 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 €3.8 million are available towards the refurbishment of existing pools or the provision of a new pool subject, in either case, 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.
As I indicated in my reply to a parliamentary question on the same subject by the Deputy in June 2003, applications under the current programme closed at the end of July 2000. However, in February of this year, in view of the special circumstances involved arising from the enforced closure of Monaghan's only local authority pool, I decided to allow the local authority submit a proposal in relation to a swimming pool under the current programme. A feasibility study, representing the initial phase in the process, has been submitted by Monaghan Town Council and is under consideration in my Department.
My Department has recently received a letter from Monaghan County Council stating its intention to apply to the Monaghan task force under the PEACE II programme for funding in respect of the tourism and recreational aspects of the swimming pool project. However, my Department has been advised by the Special European Union Programmes Body, SEUPB, that an application constituting an expression of interest will be accepted by the task force without prior planning approval having first been obtained for the project. Consequently there would not seem to be any reason why the county council cannot pursue this course independently of the application under the local authority swimming pool programme.
