David Stanton
Ceist:7 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will make funding available to enable a swimming pool to be constructed in Cobh, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2129/03]
Other Questions. - Swimming Pool Projects.
Under the local authority swimming pool programme 2000-2002, which is administered by my Department, there are four stages in a swimming pool project following the submission of a feasibility study. These, in order of progress, are: preliminary report; contract documents; tender; and construction. My Department's technical advisers, the Office of Public Works, evaluate each stage and local authorities cannot proceed to the next stage of a project unless prior approval issues from my Department. Grant aid is allocated only when tenders have been approved for the project and will be capped at the time of allocation.
Grants of up to €3,809,214 are available towards both the refurbishment of existing pools and the provision of new pools, subject in both cases to the total grant not exceeding 80% of the eligible cost of the project or, in the case of projects located in designated disadvantaged areas, 90% of the eligible cost. Support is available towards the cost of the swimming pool, toddler pool, sauna and steam room.
As indicated in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 321 of 19 November 2002 on this subject, my Department has been advised by the Office of Public Works to await the appointment of a pool operator, as envisaged by Cobh Town Council, before processing the Cobh application further. This is to ensure that any changes to the proposed facility required by the pool operator can be incorporated prior to approval of tenders. The proposal will be considered further on receipt of this additional information.
I thank the Minister for his reply, although it is the standard response to all questions on swimming pools. Is he aware that Cobh pool closed in 1985 and that in 1995 the estimated cost of constructing a pool was £1.7 million; in 1997, £2.7 million; in 2000, £5.4 million; in 2001, £7.6 million and in 2002, €7.8 million? Will the Minister examine the procedures involved in constructing public pools, because this is surely a scandal? People have been waiting for 12 years or longer for a pool to be constructed and nothing has happened. Is the Minister aware there are 12,000 people on the island of Cobh, which lacks a cinema, a youth club, sports facilities and a swimming pool? Will the Minister, as a matter of urgency, contact Cobh Town Council, talk to people in his Department and see if this project can be expedited as soon as possible?
The delay is not on our side. My information indicates that we have been advised to await the appointment of a pool operator by Cobh Town Council but it has not done so. We will write to the council to ask when it is going to appoint the pool operator and perhaps the Deputy might contact it also.
Does the Minister not agree that it is a scandal that this pool closed in 1985 and that he has some responsibility to ensure that the people get the facilities that are needed? There is a huge need for this project to go ahead in Cobh. Money has been collected over the years, but there have been administrative delays. It seems that as soon as the town council satisfies one condition another is thrown at them. This has happened on numerous occasions. Will the Minister investigate the unacceptable delays because the costs are mounting, making it almost impossible for the local authority to match the funding? Will he give a commitment to examine this swimming pool programme because Deputies from all sides of the House are concerned at the delays, given that costs are increasing all the time?
The problem is that it is not the Department's fault. I suspect the major delay was the fact that there was no funding for swimming pools up to 2000, when this programme was introduced. At that stage, around €57 million was made available. Cobh submitted a proposal for a pool, the cost of which is around €7.64 million and – while the contract documents for the project were approved in December 2000 and tender documents were received in December 2001 – the Office of Public Works advised my Department that it should not proceed until Cobh Town Council had appointed a pool operator. This was to ensure that any changes to the proposed facility required by the pool operator could be incorporated prior to approval of the tenders. If we receive the information we will proceed. There is no point in my taking the blame for something for which I am not responsible.
When did the requirement in respect of the pool operator come about?
Subsequent to the receipt of the tender documents.
Is it a new requirement that has only been introduced generally in recent years or did it always exist?
The point is that the Office of Public Works has advised our Department that Cobh Town Council was to appoint a pool operator. It is quite straightforward and it does not matter when, how or where. I have outlined the advice of the Office of Public Works and given the Deputy the reasons for it. The best approach at this stage would be for Cobh Town Council to go ahead and appoint a pool operator. Deputy Stanton might be better engaged taking this matter up with the council.
I think the Minister has the documents.