The €17m Aquatic Centre proposed two years ago for a site adjacent to the Community Centre at Cappagh is facing choppy waters after the revelation that a review of the costs predicts a €5million jump in construction costs.
Now there are fears that €8m allocated to Galway City Council in 2020 under the Large-Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund for the development could be lost to the local authority following a reappraisal of the project for which the grant was intended.
The reappraisal projected a €5m increase in the proposed construction costs since the project was first proposed.
In 2020, the proposal to develop a regional aqua and fitness centre comprising of a 34m x 25m swimming pool and accompanying gym was proposed to cost €17,154,849.
However, with the passage of time, the recent reappraisal of the project shows an increased constructions cost of €22,105,592, a leap of €5m from the original price.
In 2020, the Government committed to funding the project to the tune of €8 Million under the Large-Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund.
However, The Advertiser understands that the Department of Sport have confirmed that despite the projected increase in construction costs, no further grant aid will be provided to the project, and it will now cost the council €14m to bring the project to its conclusion.”
Cllr John Connolly told this newspaper last evening that he now fears for the project and has suggested that scarce resources be instead diverted to upgrading Leisureland.
“With the existing uncertainty in construction and energy prices in the future, there is now real doubt that this project is a feasible one for the local authority to progress.
“The best possible option I see for the council is to immediately enter discussions with the department of sport in a bid to secure the funding for an alternative project. I
“t would make sense given the objective of the initial grant for an aquatic facility, that the grant would now be sought to enhance the facilities at Leisureland.”
“The department are currently undertaking a full review of the projects granted funding under the Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Funding and in that context, we should try and ensure the funding intended for Galway benefits a project within the city,” he concluded.
