Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 December 2018
554. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if funding will be provided for a feasibility study for a public swimming pool in west County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52836/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme (LASPP), as operated by my Department, provides grant aid to local authorities towards the capital costs of new swimming pools or the refurbishment of existing pools. To date 51 pools have been completed and four swimming pool projects remain in the current LASPP. The priority next year will be on advancing these four projects and sufficient resources are available to cover these commitments.
In relation to the future funding of swimming pools and other larger projects, the National Development Plan confirmed the establishment of a new Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) with at least €100 million available over the coming years. The new scheme opened for applications on 19 November and the closing date for applications is the 17 April 2019. Full details of the scheme and application forms are available on my Department's website at http://www.dttas.ie/sport/english/large-scale-sport-infrastructure-fund-lssif. Initially, the scheme has a particular focus on National Governing Bodies of Sport and Local Authorities. New swimming pool projects will be considered under the scheme.
Applications under the grant scheme will be considered under two separate streams. Stream One gives applicants the opportunity to apply for a consultancy grant towards the cost of developing the project with the assistance of external consultants to the point that a Stream Two final application for delivery phase funding can be submitted. In all cases, applicants are required to submit a feasibility report as part of their application. The feasibility report is intended to be a relatively short report which constitutes an evaluation of the viability of the project idea.
