My Department administers the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme, which provides grant aid to local authorities in respect of the capital costs of a new swimming pool, a replacement pool or the refurbishment of an existing pool. The closing date for receipt of applications under the current round of this Programme was 31 July 2000 and since then a total 57 projects have or are being dealt with. Of the 57 projects within the Programme, 19 have been completed and 14 are now under construction or are about to start construction. In addition, 24 other projects are at various stages in the Programme — 6 at tender stage, 10 at contract document stage and 8 at preliminary report stage. Details of these projects are provided in the table which follows. It is important to note that progress under the programme is largely determined not by my Department, but by the speed at which individual local authorities progress their projects.
As part of the Preliminary Reports/Feasibility Studies required for each project, local authorities are required to address issues of population/catchment areas in assessing the viability of their projects, bearing in mind that all operational costs are solely the responsibility of the local authority. An Expenditure Review of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme, which is underway at present, will also addressing the issue of the population/catchment areas for public swimming pools from the regional/national perspective.
PROJECTS COMPLETED (19)
1. Arklow (Refurbish)
2. Courtown/Gorey (New)
3. Dundalk (New)
4. Ennis (New)
5. Enniscorthy (New)
6. Monaghan (Refurbish)
7. Navan (New)
8. Wicklow (New)
9. Roscommon (Refurbish)
10. AquaDome, Tralee (Refurbish)
11. Ballinasloe (Replace)
12. Finglas, Dublin (Replace)
13. Grove Island, Limerick (New)
14. Sports and Leisure Centre, Tralee (Refurbish)
15. Clonmel (Refurbish)
16. Churchfield, Cork City (Refurbish)
17. Ballymun, Dublin City (Replace)
18. Tuam, Co. Galway (Replace)
19. Drogheda, Co. Louth (Replace)
UNDER CONSTRUCTION OR ABOUT TO START CONSTRUCTION (14)
1. Cobh, Co. Cork (Replace)
2. Youghal, Co. Cork (New)
3. Ballyfermot, Dublin City (Replace)
4. Jobstown, South County Dublin (New)
5. Letterkenny, Co. Donegal (Replace)
6. Monaghan town (Replace)
7. Ballybunion, Co. Kerry (New)
8. Clondalkin, South County Dublin (Replace)
9. Killarney, Co. Kerry (New)
10. Askeaton, Co. Limerick (Replace outdoor pool)
11. Portlaoise, Co. Laois (Replace)
12. Portarlington, Co. Laois (Refurbish)
13. Longford, Co. Longford (Replace)
14. Thurles, Co. Tipperary (Replace)
OUT TO TENDER (6)
1. Athy, Co. Kildare (Replace)
2. Birr, Co. Offaly (Refurbish)
3. Naas, Co. Kildare (Replace)
4. Claremorris, Co. Mayo (Refurbish)
5. St. Michael's House, Dublin (New)
6. Kilkenny City (Replace)
CONTRACT DOCUMENTS STAGE (10)
1. Tullamore, Co. Offaly (Replace for outdoor pool)
2. Bray, Co. Wicklow (Replace)
3. Greystones, Co. Wicklow (New)
4. Skerries, Fingal (New)
5. Roscrea, Tipperary, NR (New)
6. New Ross, Co. Wexford (Replace)
7. Buncrana, Co. Donegal (Refurbish)
8. Glenalbyn, Co. Dublin (Refurbish)
9. Castlebar, Co. Mayo (Replace)
10. Dunmanway, Co. Cork (Refurbish)
PRELIMINARY REPORT STAGE (8)
1. Dundrum, Co. Dublin (Replace)
2. Edenderry, Co. Offaly (Replace)
3. Clara, Co. Offaly (Refurbish)
4. Ballybofey, Co. Donegal (New)
5. Ferrybank, Co. Wexford (Refurbish)
6. Ballaghadereen, Co. Roscommon (New)
7. Loughrea, Co. Galway (New)
8. St. Joseph's School for Deaf Boys