Brussels last year turned down a project to make the water heating system at the national pool more environment friendly because administrative procedures were not adhered to, according to the sports parliamentary secretary.

Stefan Buontempo said €250,000 in EU funds were lost last year when the project was rejected.

He said the Government will, at the first opportunity, re-submit an application to replace the heating system with a more efficient one.

The pool water is heated during the winter months by a boiler that runs on diesel. The new system would reduce harmful emissions.

The cost of heating the pool amounts to €500,000 a year. The new system would have saved thousands of euro that could be used to boost the sports sector.

Dr Buontempo added a report on the “dilapidated” complex at Tal-Qroqq will be ready in a month.

The state of the pool was bad, he said: the shower could not be used because the water would end up in the pool heating system; tiles were missing around the pool, making for a hazardous situation; equipment was not working and there was lack of access for people with mobility problems.

“All this makes for danger and inconvenience for swimmers, people using the facilities and waterpolo and competition spectators.”