Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 April 2004
154 Ms Lynch asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of applications received in relation to the provision of new swimming pools and for the refurbishment of existing pools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10642/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe closing date for receipt of applications under the current round of the local authority swimming pool programme was 31 July 2000 and since then 55 applications have or are being dealt with under the programme. Of these applications, 17 are for new pools in greenfield sites, 24 for replacement pools and 14 for the refurbishment of existing pools.
Under the programme, there are four principal stages in a swimming pool project, feasibility study/preliminary report, contract documents, tender and construction. Local authorities may not proceed to the next stage of a project until prior approval issues from my Department.
Due to the long lead-time associated with such projects, it can take some time for projects to proceed through the various stages of development. Of the 55 projects, 13 swimming pool projects have been opened or have completed construction work. These are in Arklow, Courtown/Gorey, Dundalk, Ennis, Enniscorthy, Monaghan, Navan, Wicklow, Roscommon, Aquadome Tralee, Ballinasloe, Finglas in Dublin and Grove Island in Limerick. Five projects are at construction phase — the Regional Sports and Leisure Centre in Tralee, Clonmel, Tuam, Churchfield in Cork city and Ballymun in Dublin. In addition, 37 other applications are at various stages in the process, four are at tender stage, 18 are at contract document stage and 15 are at preliminary report stage.
