Vol. 566 No. 1
397 Mr. O'Dowd asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the swimming pools that will be funded by his Department in 2003; the amount allocated in each case; and the date his Department first received the application from the local authority or sponsors. [12411/03]
The closing date for receipt of applications under the current local authority swimming pool programme, which is administered by my Department, was July 2000. Under the programme, grants of up to a maximum of €3.8 million are available towards either the refurbishment of existing pools or the provision of a new pool, subject in either case 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. Generally speaking, grants are approved at the maximum rate of €3.8 million.
Since 2000, 55 projects have been dealt with under the programme. Grants were paid to ten swimming projects in Arklow, Courtown and Gorey, Dundalk, Ennis, Enniscorthy, Monaghan, Navan, Wicklow, Roscommon, and Aquadome, Tralee. These projects are now complete, although all grants have not yet been fully drawn down. Grant aid is usually drawn down on a phased basis on the submission of supporting documentation for the claim. A total of 5% of grant aid is retained until final account and architect's certification of the completion of the project in all respects has been received. Three projects are currently on site and being built in Finglas, Ballinasloe and Tralee.
In addition to the 13 projects mentioned above, 42 other applications are at various stages of development: one has passed tender document stage, five have passed contract document stage, 17 have passed preliminary report stage, 12 have passed feasibility study stage and seven are under consideration. The provision in my Department's 2003 Estimates for this programme is €9 million. Allocations to individual projects in 2003 and, indeed, in future years is dependent on progress through the approval system, the construction timetable and submission of appropriate supporting documentation in respect of grant claims to my Department.
The following sets out the position in relation to projects at the most advanced stage in the process:
|
Pool |
Date application received |
Total allocation to swimming pool project |
Payments prior to 2003 |
Payments to date in 2003 |
|
€ |
€ |
€ |
||
|
Arklow |
April 1996 |
2,349,015 |
2,231,565 |
– |
|
Dundalk |
Feb 1998 |
3,809,214 |
3,618,752 |
– |
|
Enniscorthy |
April 1991 |
2,693,565 |
2,541,197 |
– |
|
Navan |
Nov 1994 |
3,174,345 |
3,015,628 |
158,717 |
|
Roscommon |
July 1994 |
3,809,214 |
3,618,734 |
– |
|
Courtown/Gorey |
Nov 1999 |
3,809,214 |
3,618,754 |
– |
|
Ballinasloe |
June 1993 |
3,809,214 |
1,275,193 |
1,018,511 |
|
Finglas |
Nov 1999 |
3,809,214 |
1,222,357 |
639,358 |
|
Tralee (Aquadome) |
Nov 1999 |
0,086,400 |
– |
53,278 |
|
Tralee (Clonalour) |
Nov 1992 |
3,809,214 |
– |
– |
|
Limerick (Grove Island) |
July 2000 |
3,809,214 |
– |
– |
|
Total |
34,967,823 |
21,142,180 |
1,869,860 |
