COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

MOTION NO 6.

MOTION: Councillor E. O'Brien

"That the Chief Executive having regard to all previous motions relating to the provision of a swimming pool for the Lucan area, I call on this Committee to agree a co ordinated approach to the provision of a multi faceted leisure centre incorporating a swimming pool in the Lucan area preferably on the site of the existing leisure centre at Griffeen Valley Park by taking the following steps;

1. Calling on the Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport to reopen the swimming pool grants scheme

2. Calling on the Manager to open a fund which will ring fence all sports funding procured for the Lucan electoral area over the lifetime of this Council or until such facility is built, for the provision of the facility."

REPORT:

The Capital Programme 2015-2017 was agreed at the December Meeting of the Council and makes no provision for a swimming pool in Lucan. The Capital Programme is reviewed annually in conjunction with the preparation of the annual Revenue Budget. The delivery of the programme is predicated on the realisation of the revenue streams set out.

The Government’s Local Authority Swimming Pool Grant Scheme administered by The Department of Transport Tourism and Sports has been closed to new applications for a considerable period and the Council has no indication that the Government intends to re-open same. Grant assistance has been an integral part of the financing of the completed elements of the Water Leisure Strategy. Revenue from Development Contribution receipts has also declined in recent years. 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. In terms of levies and asset disposals proposals for expenditure of these funds are considered on a countywide basis having regard to priorities identified by the Council for funding and taking cognizance of the various stages of development of community infrastructure projects on a countywide basis at a particular time.

Borrowing to fund or part-fund the provision of a commercially operated Public Swimming Pool Facility in Lucan would also have financial implications for the Councils Revenue Budgets into the future. The financial prudence of proceeding without grant assistance which was €3.8m under the last programme would require serious consideration.The financial and operational challenges faced by the Council/South County Dublin Leisure Services in managing/maintaining the exiting water leisure facilities was reported to the Corporate Policy Group at its meeting on 11th November 2013 http://intranet/cmas/documentsview.aspx?id=41494”

The Lucan Area Initiative Report was developed following a consultation process during late 2013 and presented to the members of the Lucan Area Committee on 28th January 2014.The exercise was conducted to gather baseline data from the Residents of Lucan about the perceived need for additional community facilities, particularly indoor space and involved a 3 phase consultation process: 

The main finding was the need for a Multi Purpose Community Facility to be constructed on a phased basis in a suitable location to accommodate a wide range of sporting and leisure activities in addition to an understanding that finance was limited and most groups supported the concept of shared facilities.  

It is not permitted to re-assign sports funding applied for and received for specific projects to a fund to finance a swimming pool. 

If the motion is passed the terms of the motion will be forwarded to the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and when received a copy of the reply will be circulated to the Members.