Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 October 2016
163. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will expedite the approval for the next stage of a project (details supplied) in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30994/16]
View answerThe 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. There are four stages in the development of a project under the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme, namely Preliminary Report, Contract Documents, Tender and Construction.
In January of this year, my 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, it was was decided to include the proposal from South Dublin County Council (SDCC) for a new swimming pool in Lucan in the LASPP.
My Department wrote to SDCC in April 2016 advising the Council to undertake the Preliminary Report stage which includes the Feasibility Study, Appointment of Consultants for Preliminary Proposals and Design Brief. Documentation in this regard was received from SDCC in July and is currently under examination by my Department's technical advisor and my officials. In this regard, I have asked that this project would be prioritised in order to progress it to the next stage in the programme, i.e. the Contract Documents stage, as soon as possible.
