Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 February 2012
692 Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if funding was ever allocated for a swimming pool (details supplied) in County Donegal; if so, the current status of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9242/12]
View answerUnder the current round of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme, operated by my Department, grant aid to a maximum of €3.8m is provided to Local Authorities, towards the capital cost 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 Transport, Tourism and Sport.
I understand that the Feasibility Study/Preliminary Report was approved for the refurbishment of the pool in Buncrana in April 2005 and the Department currently awaits contract documents.
