Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Swimming Pool moves ahead

The Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport Michael Ring T.D, today announced that he has approved the Tender Report submitted by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council for the new swimming pool at Loughlinstown under the Local authority Swimming Pool Programme. This approval will allow the Council to commence construction of this valuable public amenity.

The work proposed includes a 25m long community swimming pool (including changing areas), a common entrance foyer serving the new pool and the existing Leisure Centre. The proposal will integrate the new swimming pool area and changing facilities with the existing Loughlinstown Leisure Centre building.

Under the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme, grants of up to €3.8 million are made available towards the refurbishment of existing pools and the provision of new pools, subject in both cases, to the total grant not exceeding 80% of the eligible cost of the project and not exceeding 90% of the eligible cost for projects located in disadvantaged areas. Minister of State Ring said, “I am delighted to be in a position to approve this project to proceed to construction under the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme. This facility will greatly enhance the leisure facilities for the people of the Loughlinstown area and the surrounding areas.
The Minister added, “The current round of the Swimming Pool Programme initiated in 2000 continues to progress. The total expenditure of €145.83m under the Programme from 2000 to 2010 leveraged a total investment of some €406m in the case of the 48 pools allocated grant aid.”

Under the current round of the Programme 46 pools have been completed and open to the public and 12 other pools are at various stages of development. In this regard the Minister said, “The current round of the Programme has been very successful in increasing both the number and quality of public swimming pools in this country. Our priority now is to work with the relevant local authorities in completing the remaining 12 pools which are included in the current round.”