I propose to take Questions Nos. 297 and 298 together.
The National Sports Policy was published in 2018 and provided for the establishment of a Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). The National Development Plan provided a capital allocation of at least €100m for the Fund over the period to 2027.
There are two streams of funding within the LSSIF. Stream One provides assistance for the development of detailed plans and cost effective analysis for proposed projects to bring them to tender stage. Stream Two provides assistance for the construction or delivery of a project.
It was open to all local authorities and National Governing Bodies (NGBs) to apply for funding. All applications were assessed in accordance with the published Evaluation Procedures and Guidelines and the published scoring system both of which are available at the following link:-
www.gov.ie/en/service/4113b3-large-scale-sport-infrastructure-fund-lssif/.
Amongst the key factors in assessing applications was the likelihood of a project increasing participation (including for those with a disability), the priority afforded to the project by the relevant local authority and/or NGB, the level of socio economic disadvantage in the area and whether the proposed project would be shared by a number of different potential users.
The first allocations under the LSSIF were announced in January 2020 and, thus far, approximately €86.4m has been awarded to 33 different proposals. These initial allocations included funding for 8 swimming pool projects under Stream 2 of the LSSIF:
1. Laois: Portarlington Leisure Centre Swimming Pool
2. Sligo: Waterpoint Aqua Park
3. Kilkenny: The Watershed Development,
4. Limerick: Askeaton Pool and Leisure
5. Wicklow: Wicklow Swimming Pool and Leisure Centre
6. Louth: Dundalk Leisure Centre
7. Galway: Galway Regional Aquatic & Fitness Centre
8. Dublin: Samuel Beckett Civic Campus Phase 2
All of these projects are now at various stages of the due diligence process in keeping with the public spending code.
Previously, Government support for new swimming pools or the refurbishment of existing pools was provided through the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme (LASPP). 52 pools have been completed under the LASPP and three swimming pool projects (Lucan, Buncrana and Edenderry) remain in the programme. A list of the completed projects is attached.
In relation to future swimming pool needs, my Department is currently undertaking a review of progress on all existing LSSIF grants. As part of this review, my Department is also considering the timing of any new call for proposals and it is expected that the review will be completed in the coming months. In addition, the National Sports Policy 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 Sports Action Plan, covering the period to end 2023 will be published shortly. It is envisaged that the development of a national swimming strategy will be significantly progressed as a priority action in that plan, with the aim of completing the strategy in early 2022.
|
|
County
|
Pool Name
|
Replacement or Refurbishment
|
Date Opened
|
|
1
|
Wicklow
|
Arklow
|
Refurbishment
|
Jan 00
|
|
2
|
Wexford
|
Enniscorthy
|
Replacement
|
Jan 00
|
|
3
|
Meath
|
Navan
|
Replacement
|
Aug 00
|
|
4
|
Wicklow
|
Wicklow
|
Replacement
|
Jun 01
|
|
5
|
Wexford
|
Courtown/Gorey
|
Replacement
|
Oct 01
|
|
6
|
Louth
|
Dundalk
|
Replacement
|
Mar 02
|
|
7
|
Roscommon
|
Roscommon
|
Refurbishment
|
Apr 02
|
|
8
|
Clare
|
Ennis
|
Replacement
|
Sep 03
|
|
9
|
Kerry
|
AquaDome Tralee
|
Refurbishment
|
2003
|
|
10
|
Galway
|
Ballinasloe
|
Replacement
|
Oct 03
|
|
11
|
Dublin
|
Finglas
|
Replacement
|
Apr 04
|
|
12
|
Limerick
|
Grove Island Limerick
|
Replacement
|
Jun 04
|
|
13
|
Kerry
|
Sports and Leisure Centre Tralee
|
Refurbishment
|
Jul 04
|
|
14
|
Tipperary
|
Clonmel
|
Refurbishment
|
Dec 04
|
|
15
|
Cork
|
Churchfield, Cork City
|
Refurbishment
|
Jun 05
|
|
16
|
Dublin
|
Ballymun
|
Replacement
|
Jun 05
|
|
17
|
Galway
|
Tuam
|
Replacement
|
Sep 05
|
|
18
|
Louth
|
Drogheda
|
Replacement
|
May 06
|
|
19
|
Monaghan
|
Monaghan
|
Replacement
|
Aug 06
|
|
20
|
Cork
|
Cobh
|
Replacement
|
Aug 06
|
|
21
|
Cork
|
Youghal
|
Replacement
|
Sep 06
|
|
22
|
Dublin
|
Jobstown
|
Replacement
|
Nov 06
|
|
23
|
Kerry
|
Ballybunion
|
Replacement
|
Jun 07
|
|
24
|
Offaly
|
Birr
|
Refurbishment
|
Jul 07
|
|
25
|
Donegal
|
Letterkenny
|
Replacement
|
Jul 07
|
|
26
|
Limerick
|
Askeaton (outdoor)
|
Replacement
|
Aug 07
|
|
27
|
Longford
|
Longford
|
Replacement
|
Sept 07
|
|
28
|
Dublin
|
St. Joseph's School for Deaf Boys
|
Refurbishment
|
Nov 07
|
|
29
|
Laois
|
Portarlington
|
Refurbishment
|
Dec 07
|
|
30
|
Laois
|
Portlaoise
|
Replacement
|
Dec 07
|
|
31
|
Dublin
|
Clondalkin
|
Replacement
|
Jan 08
|
|
32
|
Tipperary
|
Thurles
|
Replacement
|
Apr 08
|
|
33
|
Dublin
|
St. Michael's House
|
Replacement
|
Apr 08
|
|
34
|
Kerry
|
Killarney
|
Replacement
|
Jul 08
|
|
35
|
Wicklow
|
Bray
|
Replacement
|
Sep 08
|
|
36
|
Dublin
|
Ballyfermot
|
Replacement
|
Oct 08
|
|
37
|
Wicklow
|
Greystones
|
Replacement
|
Oct 08
|
|
38
|
Offaly
|
Tullamore (outdoor)
|
Replacement
|
Oct 08
|
|
39
|
Kilkenny
|
Kilkenny City
|
Replacement
|
Dec 08
|
|
40
|
Kildare
|
Athy
|
Replacement
|
Mar 09
|
|
41
|
Kildare
|
Naas
|
Replacement
|
Mar 09
|
|
42
|
Dublin
|
Dundrum
|
Replacement
|
Apr 09
|
|
43
|
Mayo
|
Claremorris
|
Replacement
|
Sep 09
|
|
44
|
Tipperary
|
Roscrea
|
Replacement
|
Sep 09
|
|
45
|
Wexford
|
Ferrybank
|
Refurbishment
|
Jun 10
|
|
46
|
Dublin
|
Loughlinstown
|
Refurbishment
|
May 13
|
|
47
|
Donegal
|
Ballybofey Stranorlar
|
Replacement
|
Oct 13
|
|
48
|
Wexford
|
New Ross
|
Replacement
|
Aug 13
|
|
49
|
Dublin
|
De Paul, Navan Road
|
Refurbishment
|
Oct 15
|
|
50
|
Offaly
|
Clara
|
Refurbishment
|
Nov 15
|
|
51
|
Cork
|
Dunmanway
|
Replacement
|
May 17
|
|
52
|
Mayo
|
Castlebar
|
Replacement
|
April 19
|
