Swimming Pool Projects.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 February 2007

Tuesday, 27 February 2007

Questions (332, 333)

Billy Timmins

Question:

392 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the situation with respect to the proposals to develop a swimming pool at Bray, County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7607/07]

Written answers

Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Mr. O’Donoghue)

Under the terms of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme, there are four stages in the development of a swimming pool project. These are, in order of progress, Feasibility Study/Preliminary Report, Contract Documents, Tender and Construction. My Department's technical advisors, 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 formally allocated when the tender for the project is approved.

On 20 July 2006, I approved the Contract Documents submitted by Bray Town Council for a proposed public swimming pool at Bray, County Wicklow, which allowed the project to go to tender. The tender for the project has been submitted to my Department and is now under consideration.

Billy Timmins

Question:

393 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the situation with respect to the proposals to develop a swimming pool at Greystones, County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7608/07]

Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Mr. O’Donoghue)

Under the terms of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme, there are four stages in the development of a swimming pool project. These are, in order of progress, Feasibility Study/Preliminary Report, Contract Documents, Tender and Construction. My Department's technical advisors, 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 formally allocated when the tender for the project is approved.

On 25 July 2006, I approved the Contract Documents submitted by Wicklow County Council for a proposed public swimming pool at Greystones, County Wicklow, which allowed the project to go to tender. The tender for the project was submitted to my Department earlier this month and is now under consideration.