Donegal Minister Charlie McConalogue has said he is fully committed to securing another avenue of funding to proceed with the Buncrana Swimming Pool and Leisure Centre Project.
There was widespread disappointment at the announcement of the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund allocations this morning, which saw €8.7 million allocated to the ATU Letterkenny Regional Sports and Activity Hub in Letterkenny.
An application for the rebuilding of the Buncrana Leisure Centre was turned down, sparking anger and upset among the committee who have the project shovel-ready.
Minister McConalogue said he was disappointed that the project application was not successful but will turn his focus to having the swimming pool funded through the Repower Buncrana Project under the Rural Regeneration Fund.
On the Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund allocations, he said: “Unfortunately, it did not prove possible to secure funding for both projects, given the need for a regional spread across all counties.
“As only one project was selected on this occasion, the funding was allocated by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to ATU Letterkenny Regional Sports and Activity Hub as the indicated first preference choice of Donegal County Council in the application process,” he said.
The application for the Buncrana Pool and Leisure Centre was seeking €11.7 million from the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund, with an additional €5 million to come from Donegal County Council.
Minister McConalogue said he will now press for a successful funding application for the Repower Buncrana Project under the Rural Regeneration Fund.
“This project received €1.8 million last year for the design project proposal, and I believe it is one that will stand a very strong chance of being successful,” he said.
“Planning permission for the new state-of-the-art swimming pool and leisure centre was granted in January. This project is critical for Buncrana and Inishowen, and I will do everything possible to make sure that the funding is secured so that it can be delivered,” the Donegal Minister added.
