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SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, September 09, 2013

QUESTION NO 23.

QUESTION: Councillor E. Tuffy

To ask the Manager for an update on the Council's Swimming Pool Programme, and if the Government has  given any indication to SDCC  on the reopening of the grants scheme for Local Authority swimming pools?

REPLY:

The provision of a swimming pool in Lucan is the next stage in the delivery of The Council's Water Leisure Strategy (as amended).

A report on the 3 Year Rolling Capital Program 2013-2015 was presented at the November 2012 OP&F Meeting and subsequently noted at the December 2012 Council Meeting. Lucan Swimming Pool falls under the Category of 'Projects planned subject to funding'. As the full funding has not been identified no progress is projected in the medium term. The 3 Year Rolling Capital Program is subject to annual review and report to the full Council.

The Government Swimming Pool Grant Scheme has been closed for a considerable period and the Council has no indication that the Government is re-opening same.  Revenue from Development Contribution receipts  has significantly declined and is not expected to recover in the short to medium term. If the Government re-opened the Grant Scheme, the Council would still have a major difficulty in funding the balance. There would have to be certainty regarding the total funding of the project to support the submission of a grant application. Consideration would also have to be given to the consequential implications for the revenue budget resulting from the provision of such a facility.