Swimming Pool Projects.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 February 2010

Tuesday, 9 February 2010

Questions (247, 248, 249, 250, 251, 252, 253, 254)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

382 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the grants available for public swimming pools and the conditions therein. [6358/10]

Written answers

Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Deputy Martin Cullen)

Under the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme, which is administered by the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism grant aid to a maximum of €3.8 million is provided to Local Authorities towards the capital costs of new swimming pools or the refurbishment of existing 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 disadvantaged areas, 90% of the eligible cost. Proposals must comply with the standards set out in the Department's "Procedures for the Planning, Approval and Financing of Swimming Pools and Technical Guidelines."

Under the Guidelines there are four principal 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. Grant-aid is allocated only when tenders have been approved for the project and is capped at the time of allocation. The Department and its 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 the Department of Arts, Sport & Tourism. The current round of the programme has been closed to new applicants since July 2000. An allocation of €7.5m has been provided to meet commitments under the current round arising in 2010. No decision has been taken on the timing of a new round of the programme.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

383 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the amount of each grant for swimming pools issued by his Department for each of the past 15 years; and the location of each pool which benefitted from the grant. [6359/10]

Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Deputy Martin Cullen)

The information requested by the Deputy is attached in tabular form and will be circulated with the official report. Prior to 1998 the swimming pool programme was operated by the Department of Environment and Local Government. Payments are shown in the table from 1998-2002 when the programme was operated by the Department of Tourism Sport and Recreation and from 2002-2010 when the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism was established.

Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme

Payments by the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation (D/Arts, Sport and Tourism since 2002) for the years 1998 to 2010
(exchange rate: 0.787564 for years 1998 to 2000)
County	*1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008 to end Dec	2009	2010	Total Paid
	€	€	€	€	€	€	€	€	€	€	€			€
Clare (Ennis)	203,665	0	2,570,713	0	146,020	0	0		0					2,920,398
Cork City (Churchfield)	0	0	0	0	0	0	3,618,753		190,461					3,809,214
Cork Co (Youghal)	0	0	0	0	0	0	460,485	959,915	2,198,353.49		190,461			3,809,214
Cork Co (Cobh)	0	0	0	0	0	0	273,489	1,105,961	2,239,304			190,461		3,809,214
Donegal (Ballyshannon)	97,440	0	0	0	0	0	0		0					97,440
Donegal (Letterkenny)	0	0	0	0	0	0	882,143	927,198	1,618,952			380,921		3,809,214
Dublin City (Finglas)	0	0	0	0	1,222,357	2,396,397	0					190,462		3,809,215
Dublin City (Ballymun)	0	0	0	0	0	0	3,618,753		0		190,461			3,809,214
Dublin City (Ballyfermot)	0	0	0	0	0	0	395,397	1,346,979	1,876,377					3,618,753
Dublin (St. Michaels House)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	445,842	2,222,220	661,938	370,000		3,700,000
Dublin (St. Joseph’s School)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	270,000	30,000			300,000
DunLaoghaire Rathdown (Dundrum)											3,428,293			3,428,293
Dublin South (Jobstown)	0	0	0	0	0	0	256,920	1,416,642	1,754,730			380,921		3,809,214
Dublin South (Clondalkin)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	311,570	2,745,861	370,862		380,921		3,809,214
Galway (Renmore)	0	203,158	0	0	0	0	0		0					203,158
Galway (Ballinasloe)	0	0	0	0	1,275,193	2,343,560	0	190,461	0					3,809,214
Galway (Tuam)	0	0	0	0	0	0	2,050,678	1,568,075	0	190,461				3,809,214
Kerry (Tralee Aquadome)	0	0	0	0	0	86,400	0		0					86,400
Kerry (Tralee Sports Centre)	0	0	0	0	0	1,379,339	2,239,415	190,461	0					3,809,214
Kerry (Ballybunion)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	295,105	1,339,354	2,148,436				3,782,896
Kerry (Killarney)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	504,248	1,137,768	1,784,991				3,427,007
Kildare (Athy)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	893,790	2,534,502			3,428,293
Kildare (Naas)										1,161,459	2,266,834			3,428,293
Kilkenny (Kilkenny)										2,134,015	1,294,277			3,428,292
Laois (Portlaoise)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	985,564	2,442,728		380,921		3,809,214
Laois (Portarlington)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		1,345,565	2,076,189		387,460		3,809,214
Limerick (Askeaton)	7,877	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0				7,877
Limerick (Newcastlewest)	0	12,697	0	0	0	0	0	0	0					12,697
Limerick (Askeaton-replace)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1,446,354	1,981,940		380,921		3,809,215

Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme

Payments by the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation (D/Arts, Sport and Tourism since 2002) for the years 1998 to 2010 —continued
(exchange rate: 0.787564 for years 1998 to 2000)
County	*1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008 to end Dec	2009	2010	Total Paid
	€	€	€	€	€	€	€	€	€	€	€			€
Limerick City (Grove Island)	0	0	0	0	0	2,108,526	1,510,227		190,461					3,809,214
Longford	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1,437,798	1,990,494		380,921		3,809,213
Louth (Dundalk)	0	0	1,844,381	1,774,371	0	0	190,462		0					3,809,214
Louth (Drogheda)	0	0	0	0	0	0	523,195	3,095,558	0			190,461		3,809,214
Mayo (Claremorris)											1,762,624	1,665,668		3,428,293
Meath (Navan)	241,250	1,471,868	1,168,463	0	0	158,717	0		0					3,040,298
Monaghan Town (refurbish)	30,443	272,804	0	0	77,674	0	0		0					380,922
Monaghan Town (replace)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2,188,846	1,239,446		380,921			3,809,214
Offaly (Birr)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	1,260,000	88,380	149,820		1,498,200
Offaly (Clara, Edenderry)	11,428	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0				11,428
Offaly (Tullamore)										1,517,415	1,910,878			3,428,293
Roscommon Town	0	0	0	2,724,246	894,488	0	190,480		0					3,809,214
Tipperary Town (Sean Treacy pool)	50,790	77,453	0	0	0	0	0		0					128,242
Tipperary (Clonmel)	0	0	0	0	0	336,600	1,223,237		0			82,097		1,641,934
Tipperary (Thurles)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	580,171	2,538,210	309,911	380,921		3,809,213
Tipperary (Roscrea)											1,345,936	2,082,356		3,428,292
Waterford (Crystal) £112,996 IR pd 1997 to DoE = €143,476	913,264	752,637	95,230	0	0	0	0		0					1,761,131
Westmeath (Mullingar)	95,230	44,959	0	0	0	0	0		0					140,189
Wexford Ferrybank												2,815,907	333,130	3,149,037
Wexford (Gorey/Courtown)	0	0	0	3,618,754	0	190,461	0		0					3,809,214
Wexford (Enniscorthy)	983,208	500,965	0	0		0	152,369		0					1,636,541
Wicklow (Arklow)	103,415	1,620,626	382,341			0	0		0			117,451		2,223,833
Wicklow Town	238,711	756,653	1,295,041		266,645	0	0		0					2,557,051
Wicklow (Bray)										1,714,983	1,713,309	380,921		3,809,214
Wicklow (Greystones)										1,088,597	2,339,695	380,921		3,809,213
Overall Total	2,976,721	5,713,821	7,356,169	8,117,371	3,882,377	9,000,000	17,586,003	14,101,019	22,772,361	27,786,790	20,448,420	11,670,434	333,130	151,744,616

Swimming Pools funded, by Pool, since 1998 (since transfer to this Department)

	Pool	County	Total allocated to pool project
			€
1	*Arklow	Wicklow	2,349,015
2	*Ballyshannon	Donegal	2,038,472
3	*Askeaton	Limerick	96,759
4	*Newcastlewest	Limerick	36,187
5	*Mullingar	Westmeath	1,180,074
6	*Navan	Meath	3,174,345
7	*Offaly (Birr, Clara, Edenderry)	Offaly	239,980
8	*Tipperary Town	Tipperary	1,341,096
9	*Waterford (Waterford Crystal)	Waterford	1,904,607
10	*Wicklow Town	Wicklow	2,679,147
11	Askeaton (replace)	Limerick	3,809,214
12	Ballinasloe	Galway	3,809,214
13	Ballybunion	Kerry	3,782,896
14	Ballyfermot	Dublin City	3,809,214
15	Ballymun	Dublin City	3,809,214
16	Churchfield	Cork City	3,809,214
17	Clondalkin	South Dublin	3,809,214
18	Clonmel	Tipperary	1,641,934
19	Cobh	Cork County	3,809,214
20	Courtown/Gorey	Wexford	3,809,214
21	Drogheda	Louth	3,809,214
22	Dundalk	Louth	3,809,214
23	Ennis	Clare	2,920,398
24	Enniscorthy	Wexford	2,693,565
25	Finglas	Dublin City	3,809,214
26	Renmore	Galway	203,158
27	Jobstown	South Dublin	3,809,214
28	Killarney	Kerry	3,809,214
29	Letterkenny	Donegal	3,809,214
30	Longford	Longford	3,809,214
31	Limerick (Grove Island)	Limerick	3,809,214
32	Monaghan	Monaghan (refurbish)	380,921
33	Monaghan	Monaghan (replace)	3,809,214
34	Portlaoise	Laois	3,809,214
35	Portarlington	Laois	3,809,214
36	Roscommon	Roscommon	3,809,214
37	Tralee (Aquadome)	Kerry	86,400
38	Tralee (Clonalour)	Kerry	3,809,214
39	Tuam	Galway	3,809,214
40	Youghal	Cork County	3,809,214
	Total		114,360,876

*Grants were allocated prior to 1998, but part of the grants were drawn down in 1998 and in ensuing years.

Swimming Pools funded, by County/City Council, since 1998 (since transfer from D/Env. to this Department)

	County	Pool	Total allocation to swimming pool project
			€
1	Clare	Ennis	2,920,398
2	Cork County	Cobh	3,809,214
3	Cork County	Youghal	3,809,214
4	Cork City	Churchfield	3,809,214
5	Donegal	*Ballyshannon	2,038,472
6	Donegal	Letterkenny	3,809,214
7	Dublin City	Finglas	3,809,214
8	Dublin City	Ballymun	3,809,214
9	Dublin City	Ballyfermot	3,809,214
10	Galway	Galway (Renmore)	203,158
11	Galway	Ballinasloe	3,809,214
12	Galway	Tuam	3,809,214
13	Kerry	Tralee (Aquadome)	86,400
14	Kerry	Tralee (Clonalour)	3,809,214
15	Kerry	Ballybunion	3,782,896
16	Kerry	Killarney	3,809,214
17	Laois	Portlaoise	3,809,214
18	Laois	Portarlington	3,809,214
19	Limerick	*Newcastlewest	36,187
20	Limerick	*Askeaton	96,759
21	Limerick	Limerick (Grove Island)	3,809,214
22	Limerick	Askeaton (replace in 2005)	3,809,214
23	Longford	Longford	3,809,214
24	Louth	Dundalk	3,809,214
25	Louth	Drogheda	3,809,214
26	Meath	*Navan	3,174,345
27	Monaghan	Monaghan Town (refurbish)	380,921
28	Monaghan	Monaghan Town (replace)	3,809,214
29	Offaly	*Offaly (Birr, Clara, Edenderry)	239,980
30	Roscommon	Roscommon	3,809,214
31	South Dublin	Jobstown	3,809,214
32	South Dublin	Clondalkin	3,809,214
33	Tipperary	*Tipperary Town	1,341,096
34	Tipperary	Clonmel	1,641,934
35	Waterford	*Waterford (Waterford Crystal)	1,904,607
36	Westmeath	*Mullingar	1,180,074
37	Wexford	Enniscorthy	2,693,565
38	Wexford	Courtown/Gorey	3,809,214
39	Wicklow	*Wicklow Town	2,679,147
40	Wicklow	*Arklow	2,349,015
	Total		114,360,876

*Grants were allocated prior to 1998, but part of the grant-aid was drawn down in 1998 and in ensuing years.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

384 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he has had communications in the past five years with Dublin City Council regarding Crumlin swimming pool, Dublin 12 and the need for refurbishment or rebuilding; the extent of the exchange; the outcome of same. [6360/10]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

385 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Dublin City Council proposed to close Crumlin swimming pool, Dublin 12, a public swimming pool due to lack of the funds required to refurbish or rebuild the facility; his views on the importance of keeping such facilities open to encourage active participation in the sport of swimming. [6361/10]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

386 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he had communications in the past five years with Dublin City Council regarding the Coolock swimming pool, Dublin, a public swimming pool in need of refurbishment or rebuilding; the extent of the exchange; and the outcome of same. [6362/10]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

387 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Dublin City Council proposed to close the Sean McDermott Street swimming pool, Dublin due to the lack of the funds required to refurbish or rebuild the facility; his views on the importance of keeping such facilities open to encourage active participation in the sport of swimming. [6363/10]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

388 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he had communications in the past five years with Dublin City Council regarding the Sean McDermott Street swimming pool, Dublin 1, which is in need of refurbishment or rebuilding; the extent of the exchange; and the outcome of same. [6364/10]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

389 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Dublin City Council proposed to close Coolock swimming pool, Dublin due to lack of the funds required to refurbish or rebuild the facility; his views on the importance of keeping such facilities open to encourage active participation in the sport of swimming. [6365/10]

Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Deputy Martin Cullen)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 384 to 389, inclusive, together.

Under the current round of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme which closed to applicants on 31 July, 2000, no application was received from Dublin City Council on behalf of Crumlin, Coolock or Sean McDermott Street swimming pools. Since then a number of discussions have taken place with Dublin City Council relating to a number of pool projects, which the Council wish to develop in the event of a new round of the Programme being opened.

The question of the management of these swimming pools is entirely a matter for Dublin City Council. The current round of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme, operated by my Department, provides grant aid to a maximum of €3.8m to Local Authorities, towards the capital cost of new swimming pools or the refurbishment of existing pools. As already stated, the current round of the programme closed to applicants on 31 July 2000. Under the programme, 45 pools have been opened throughout the country with a further 12 pools at various stages of development. In the administrative area of Dublin City Council, new pools have been opened in Finglas, Ballyfermot, St. Michael's House, Belcamp Lane Dublin 24, Ballymun and work is underway on a new pool at Rathmines. No decision has been taken on the timing of a new round of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme. When a new round of the Programme is launched it will be open to all Local Authorities, including Dublin City Council on behalf of Crumlin, Coolock and Sean McDermott Street Swimming Pools, to submit an application under the terms that will apply.