Swimming Pool Programme

Tuesday, 27 September 2016

Questions (922)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

922. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress and extent of the discussions in course or likely to take place in regard to the provision of a new public swimming pool in north Kildare directly or in conjunction with Maynooth college, in view of the urgent need to make provision following the closure one year ago of the pool at Maynooth college; the extent of discussions with Kildare County Council, Maynooth College and his Department in the interim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27328/16]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

In January of this year, my Department contacted local authorities and sought expressions of interest in a limited round of swimming pool allocations, subject to funding becoming available from other projects where those projects would not be progressed. There were three expressions of interest received for new pools, two of which were valid and both in Dublin. The third was from Kildare County Council for a pool in Maynooth but this was invalid under the terms of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme as the local authority did not have title to the proposed site. Kildare County Council were informed of this on 30th June. In the event that the matter of title was resolved, the project could be reconsidered in the context of any future Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme.