Vol. 469 No. 7
5 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Education when the report of the strategy committee, established by the Minister of State at her Department to make a recommendation on the provision of a 50 metre swimming pool, will be made available; and when a Government decision will be made on the various proposals submitted to her Department for such a swimming pool. [18210/96]
The working group established to prepare a national strategy for sport in Ireland is carrying out a wide-ranging and detailed review of all aspects of sport, including the provision of sport facilities.
The question of the provision of a 50 metre swimming pool is being considered by the group in the context of the overall strategic plan; the high capital and running costs of such a facility and the increasing demand for funding for a wide range of other sport facilities throughout the country.
The sport strategy working group is due to complete its work later this year. A decision on the 50 metre pool will be made in the context of the group's report and available resources.
Will the Minister of State publish the feasibility study carried out for his Department in 1994 by Kitt Campbell and Associates at a cost of in excess of £40,000 of taxpayers' money to give people an opportunity to debate the issue of a 50 metre pool? Has the sports section of the Department made a submission to the Department of Finance?
I would have no problem in publishing the study, it is a question of cost.
Will it be published?
Copies of the study are available from me. It would not be practical to publish it given the cost involved and the level of demand. I confirm that no proposal for a 50 metre pool has been submitted to the Department of Finance. My Department is however having discussions with a number of interest groups. There is not a feasible proposal to recommend to Cabinet.
Will the Minister of State outline the proposals submitted to his Department by various interest groups? Does he accept the International Swimming Hall of Fame proposal is worthy of consideration? That body is prepared to establish its European headquarters here and the Department would not be required to provide a subvention for the first five years. Is the Minister of State prepared to meet with representatives of ISHOF who tell me he has been stringing them along? Will he give a guarantee to meet them in the near future and let us know the outcome of that meeting?
I can confirm for the Deputy that I met representatives of ISHOF on a number of occasions, as recently as last August, and I also met members of the Dublin International Sports Council on a number of occasions. On the question regarding this proposal, the consultants' report, which is available for the Deputy's examination, indicates clearly that it would not be viable to link a swimming pool to what is essentially a museum and that such a project would be an annual loss-maker to the Exchequer.
A sinking ship.
Albert Gubay has submitted a set of proposals to Dublin South County Council and interests in Blackrock, County Dublin and Stewart's Hospital, Palmerstown, have been in contact also. The decision to proceed will be made in the context of the policy group which is preparing a national policy for sport. It will also have to be decided in the context of the level of demand for facilities throughout the country. My Department currently has 1,400 applications for projects valued at almost £500 million, and the level of grants applied for amounts to £48.2 million. This year I was fortunate to get an increase in the allocation capacity from £4 million to £6 million, but should resources be focused on one facility in one area of the country or should we develop facilities in communities throughout the country? That question will be addressed in the context of a national policy for sport which will examine facilities, coaching and the role of sport in the education system.
I acknowledge there are a large number of applications in the Minister's Department and I appreciate his difficulty in getting money for them, but will he accept that if we are to provide a 50 metre pool, a special case must be made to the Department of Finance? I am disappointed with the Minister's replies because they are the same answers we have been getting for the past 18 months. The Minister was in Atlanta for the Olympics, and rightly so, to share in the glory and honour the achievements of Michelle Smith brought to Ireland. To honour that achievement will the Minister agree we should decide to provide a 50 metre pool?
The greatest tribute to any sports person — I congratulate Michelle Smith on her achievements — is to continue in an organised way to develop facilities for all categories of sports people at all levels, not just the elite. The way forward is to develop facilities which will encourage as many young people, and the not so young, as possible to get involved in sport at participatory level while also encouraging the elite sportsmen and women to greater achievement.
Will the Minister give a commitment to the House that by the end of this year a decision will be made on the provision of a 50 metre pool?
To jog the Deputy's memory, a proposal was made in 1991 for a 50 metre pool in the Custom House Dock but it was put on ice by the then Government.
There is little point in looking back. We all know the history of that.
The current proposals will be dealt with in the context of an overall strategy for sport. That policy will be published by the end of the year and a decision will be made in the context of the policy and the moneys available.
By December this year?
The plan will be published by the end of the year and decisions will be made in the context of the plan and the moneys available.
After the next election?
