The Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme (LASPP) provides for grant aid to local authorities towards the capital costs of new swimming pools or the refurbishment of existing pools. In January of this year, the Department contacted local authorities and sought expressions of interest in a limited round of swimming pool allocations. There were three expressions of interest received for new pools, two of which were valid and both in Dublin. Having assessed existing commitments and the funding available, including funding that will become available from withdrawn projects, it was considered prudent to progress one additional pool project at that time. Following consideration of the expressions of interest it was decided to include the proposal from South Dublin County Council (SDCC) for a new swimming pool in Lucan in the LASPP.
The Department wrote to SDCC in April 2016 advising the Council to undertake the first stage in the four principal stages in a swimming pool project i.e. Preliminary Report (including Feasibility Study).