Vol. 573 No. 1
214 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the date he received the tender documents for the refurbishment of Churchfield swimming pool, Cork; when he expects to have a decision on the tender documentation; the funding available from his Department for the pool; and the projected cost of same. [24398/03]
Cork City Council applied in December 1999 for grant-aid under the local authority swimming pool programme for the refurbishment of Churchfield swimming pool. The preliminary report for the project was received in my Department in July 2000 and approved in December 2000. This approval allowed the council to have the detailed contract documents prepared, which were received in September 2002. The contract documents were approved in December 2002, which allowed the council to invite tenders for the project. I hope to be in a position shortly to respond to the council in relation to the tender documentation as the refurbishment was received in April 2003 and is under consideration in my Department.
The total estimated cost of the refurbishment is €8.74 million, with eligible costs under the swimming pool programme at €7.28 million. The maximum grant available under the local authority swimming pool programme is €3.8 million, subject 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. Grant-aid is allocated only when tenders have been approved for the project and the grant amount is capped at the time of allocation.
