Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 April 2021
354. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of public swimming pools under the local authority swimming pool programme in each local authority; and the year in which each pool opened to the public in tabular form. [21525/21]
View answer355. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of outstanding applications under the local authority swimming pool programme; and if she plans to reopen applications to the programme. [21526/21]
View answer356. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of public swimming pools under the local authority swimming pool programme which are closed for reasons unrelated to the current Covid-19 restrictions; and the rationale for these closures in each local authority in tabular form. [21527/21]
View answer357. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the details of public swimming pools under the local authority swimming pool programme which are awaiting refurbishment; the estimated costs of refurbishment; and the estimated dates of completion. [21528/21]
View answer358. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the procedure of her Department for determining the need for swimming pools in each local authority; and the grounds on which they are allocated. [21529/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 354 to 358, inclusive, together.
The Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme (LASPP) provides grant aid towards the capital costs of new swimming pools or the refurbishment of existing pools. To date 52 pools have been completed and three swimming pool projects (Lucan, Buncrana and Edenderry) remain in the programme. A table showing the 52 completed pools and the date of opening is attached.
In relation to the three remaining pools, work on the Lucan project has commenced. Both Buncrana and Edenderry are at Contract Documents stage. There are no outstanding applications under the LASPP.
Exchequer support for any new swimming pool projects is now being provided under the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). The LSSIF was launched in 2018 to provide Exchequer support for larger sports facility projects including swimming pools with at least €100m being made available over the period to 2027. Provisional grants to 8 swimming pool projects under the LSSIF were awarded in January 2020. Those projects are now at various stages of a due diligence process. While it is not proposed to open the LSSIF for new applications at present, my Department is undertaking a review of the LSSIF Programme which is expected to be complete in the coming months. This review will consider, inter alia, progress on all existing grants and whether any additional grants should be awarded. The timing of any new call for proposals will also be considered. Any new allocations or a new call for proposals will be dependent on receiving additional funding for the LSSIF following the completion of the review of the National Development Plan.
My Department does not have the requested information in relation to public swimming pools which are closed for reasons unrelated to the current Covid-19 restrictions and the rationale for these closures. The Department's direct role is to provide capital support for the construction of some of these pools and the Department has no role in the day-to-day running of these facilities. .
In relation to future needs, the National Sports Policy 2018 -2027 (NSP), launched on 25 July 2018, commits to the development of a National Swimming Strategy. This will involve close collaboration with relevant Government Departments, Local Authorities, sporting bodies and other stakeholders. As part of this, there will be a review of swimming pool provision to identify where gaps exist and how these can be met. Furthermore, a Sport Action Plan, covering the period to end 2023 is nearing completion and will be published shortly. It is envisaged that the development of a national swimming strategy will be significantly progressed as a priority action in the early stages of that Action Plan.
