Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 15 Feb 2000

Vol. 514 No. 3

Swimming Pool Projects.

Mr. M. Kitt:

A Cheann Comhairle, thank you for allowing me to raise this matter on the Adjournment. It is disappointing to hear that Ballinasloe swimming pool is to remain closed for at least three months following damage caused to its roof by high winds a week ago. A consultant engineer has carried out an inspection of the pool on behalf of Ballinasloe Urban District Council and the report is available – perhaps the Minister has that report. I understand there are serious safety implications for Ballinasloe UDC because of the condition of the pool. Irrespective of the consultant's report, the local engineer stated that the pool will remain closed for at least three months.

Ballinasloe swimming pool opened in 1972 and approximately 100,000 people use it annually. It is very popular with school children, many of whom are involved in local and national competitions. The closure is disappointing for everyone who uses the pool, including me, – I use the pool as often as I can – but it is particularly disappointing for those swimmers who train for national competitions. The pool, as the Minister will be aware, was used to launch the Connacht special olympics. Indeed, I would hope that Ballinasloe could be used as a centre when Ireland hosts the Special Olympics.

Last year when the issue of swimming pools was debated in the Dáil, I mentioned in particular the case for a new pool at Loughrea and refurbishment of the pools at Ballinasloe and Tuam, and the Ballinasloe pool was put on a list for refurbishment under a public private partnership proposal. I would like to know the present position in that regard.

In 1993, a study carried out on the future development of Ballinasloe swimming pool highlighted certain defects in the building, including the condition of the roof. The report stated that the existing steel work was corroding with rust and that it must be replaced. I have heard figures of £378,000 and £650,000 suggested to carry out the necessary refurbishment to keep the pool in operation without providing any new amenities. In fact, it was estimated in 1993 that to provide additional facilities, such as a children's pool, fitness suite and an aerobics gym, would cost £1.1 million. Perhaps the Minister can give us some detail on a new public private partnership arrangement for a new pool at Ballinasloe. The people of Ballinasloe are most anxious to have the existing pool re-opened.

Swimming is one of the best ways to keep fit and this is one of the reasons adult clubs also use the swimming pool, particularly women's groups and organisations like Macra na Feirme. There is provision for special olympic facilities on Sunday mornings also and the pool serves the people of south Roscommon and east Galway as well as the local people.

I call for action on Ballinasloe swimming pool. If matters are left in limbo, it will be more difficult to re-open the pool and that will be very disappointing for the people who use it.

Dr. McDaid:

I thank Deputy Michael Kitt for raising this important issue on the Adjournment. I am sorry to hear of the damage sustained by the swimming pool operated by Ballinasloe Urban District Council during the recent storms, which has necessitated the closure of the pool for safety reasons. I understand that a status report on the pool in Ballinasloe is to be considered by the members of the council this week. No doubt they will also give consideration to the options open to them under the local authority swimming pool programme, responsibility for the administration of which transferred to my Department from the Department of Environment and Local Government in 1998. Under the programme grants of up to 100% of the approved cost of refurbishing existing local authority swimming pools are available, as are grants of up to 80% of the approved cost of new swimming pools, with the remainder of the cost in that case being funded by local contribution.

In the past ten years, the number of indoor hotel clubs in Ireland has more than doubled. In addition, there has been an increase over the past three years in the provision of private stand alone leisure clubs throughout the country. The lack of quality public swimming facilities, despite a steady stream of investment in their refurbishment over the years, is considered to be one of the main reasons for the increase in private facilities. In general, adult markets are more affluent today. People enjoy a higher standard of living and, consequently, have more disposable income available for sports and leisure activities. Increasingly, customer expectations of the standard of facility on offer are higher also.

The type, level and quality of public swimming pool facilities which was provided and accepted in the 1970s and 1980s are no longer acceptable as we enter a new millennium. Local authority pools must now compete with private facilities and must provide additional health and fitness facilities over and above a basic pool to be viable and successful ventures. Where new public pools have been provided in recent years, the improvement in quality and the actual facilities available has been significant, and these have become the minimum standard for the future.

On taking over responsibility for the local authority swimming pool programme, it became clear to me that a considerable investment would be required in order to update a number of the existing local authority pools and to provide attractive, competitive and viable public facilities. With this in mind, I had the Institute of Leisure and Amenity Management commissioned to conduct an analysis of the condition of local authority swimming pools. ILAM identified upwards of 30 pools, including the UDC pool at Ballinasloe, constructed between 1966 and 1981 and in varying degrees of disrepair in need of major refurbishment. In this context, I was pleased last year to secure an increase in funding of £36 million over three years for the swimming pool programme – from £3 million last year to £15 million for this year and the next two years. A total of £45 million will be spent over the next three years.

During this period, £10 million per year will be available in grant aid for the refurbishment of existing pools and a further £5 million will go towards the construction costs of new pools. Anxious to accelerate the refurbishment of the older stock of swimming pools, in particular, I invited proposals from the local authorities responsible for the pools identified by ILAM, for consideration under the newly expanded swimming pool programme.

At that time, Ballinasloe UDC had a refurbishment proposal with my Department already. Indeed, it had been given the go ahead to appoint an architect in connection with the replacement of the roof at the swimming pool, but I understand that the question of making a revised appli cation was to be considered. I now await any proposals which the council may decide to bring forward for my consideration under the enhanced programme and I look forward to continuing to work with all the local authorities to ensure the ongoing development of a high quality product for swimming, the most popular recreational activity.

As Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, I am anxious to ensure that the stock of swimming pools, which are so important from a sport and recreational point of view for the people who reside adjacent to them, are safe and of a comfortable standard. I look forward to receiving proposals from Ballinasloe UDC so that the necessary work which is needed to get the swimming facilities restored for the residents of Ballinasloe and its surrounding areas can be proceeded with as a priority.

If the Deputy wishes to get further information regarding public private partnerships which are operating successfully in a number of areas throughout the country, he has only to contact the Department and that information will be made available to him.