Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
563. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the funding options that are available to local authorities for the implementation of new community swimming pools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40639/22]
View answerIn relation to my Department's capital funding for new swimming pools or the refurbishment of existing pools, previously this support was provided through the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme (LASPP). A total of 52 pools has been completed under the LASPP and three swimming pool projects (Lucan, Buncrana and Edenderry) remain in the programme with the Lucan project currently under construction.
My Department's capital support for any new swimming pools is now being provided through the 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.
The first call for proposals under the LSSIF closed in 2019 with applications confined to local authorities and National Governing Bodies (NGBs) of Sport. All applications were assessed in accordance with the published Evaluation Procedures and Guidelines and the first allocations were announced in January 2020. Thus far, approximately €86.4 million has been awarded to 33 different proposals. These initial allocations include funding for 8 swimming pool projects as follows:
1. Laois: Portarlington Leisure Centre Swimming Pool [Allocation €300,000]
2. Sligo: Waterpoint Aqua Park [Allocation €300,000]
3. Kilkenny: The Watershed Development, [Allocation €1,443,750]
4. Limerick: Askeaton Pool and Leisure [Allocation €646,659]
5. Wicklow: Wicklow Swimming Pool and Leisure Centre [Allocation €864,177]
6. Louth: Dundalk Leisure Centre [Allocation €300,000]
7. Galway: Galway Regional Aquatic & Fitness Centre [Allocation €8,003,415]
8. Dublin: Samuel Beckett Civic Campus Phase 2 [Allocation €5,000,000]
The priority in the short term is to advance all LSSIF projects, including these swimming pools, to construction stage.
In relation to future swimming pool funding, 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. The review work is at an advanced stage and is expected to be finalised shortly.
Furthermore, the National Sports Policy commits to the development of a National Swimming Strategy. As part of this, there will be a review of swimming pool provision to identify where gaps exist and how these can be met. A working group has been established to assist in the development of this strategy and it met for the first time on 19 July 2022. It is hoped to have a strategy drafted later this year.
The outcome of the LSSIF Review and the National Swimming Strategy will be important considerations when deciding how funding might be provided for any new swimming pool proposals.
