The Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme (LASPP) provides grant aid to local authorities towards the capital costs of new swimming pools or the refurbishment of existing pools.
In January of 2016, my Department contacted local authorities and sought expressions of interest in a limited round of swimming pool allocations. There were three expressions of interest received for new pools, two of which were valid and both in Dublin. The Deputy should note that no request was received from Cork County Council for a new swimming pool in Midleton.
There are four projects in the current programme and the priority in 2017 is on progressing these projects. Dunmanway Swimming Pool in Cork is the most recently completed project and the Deputy is probably aware that it is now open to the public.
In relation to the future funding of swimming pools, my Department is currently undertaking a review of national sports policy which includes a specific focus on how Government should fund sports facilities including swimming pools in the years ahead.