A sum of €184m has been provided in the National Development Plan 2007 — 2013 for supporting existing projects under the current round of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme and for new projects to be selected following the launch of a new round of the Programme. The current round of the Programme, which closed in July 2000, has made noteworthy progress over the last 8 years when consideration is given to the lead in time in the development of pool projects.
Under the round, 36 projects have been completed and opened to the public, 9 other pools, which have been allocated funding, are under construction throughout the country and another 12 are at various stages of development. A total of €123.9m has been spent over the last 8 years under the Programme and a total of €20 million is provided for this year. Given the current budgetary constraints, it is not intended to launch a new round of the Programme at this time.