Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputy Keaveney for raising this matter, which is very close to my heart. The funding of playground facilities does not fall between departmental stools, but falls very firmly on the stool of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche. The fact that Deputy Keaveney raised this matter allows me to outline to this House details of what has been done in this area, which is not inconsiderable, although I agree with the Deputy that more can be done.

I launched Ready, Steady, Play: A National Play Policy in March of last year, a policy for the under 12s which was the first of its kind in Europe. One of the objectives identified in the policy was to maximise the provision of public play opportunities for children. It identified how these could be maximised, not only through financial incentives, but through progressive planning on the part of local authorities.

I have been making every effort to identify funding for playgrounds, together with my colleagues in Government, including the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. I am delighted to say I have had considerable success in this regard and a total of €7.9 million funding was provided in 2004 through various schemes since the launch of the policy to increase the level of access to play facilities. However, considerable sums were made available in RAPID areas and pilot projects were sanctioned in each county and the rolling out of this programme has increased the level of demand. Many other authorities and communities are seeking to establish more play facilities. One of the reasons I insisted on a rapid roll out of the original pilot schemes was to create a higher level of demand and increase the level of awareness. As Deputy Keaveney pointed out, a small amount of money in this area can go a long way. Of the total sum of €7.9 million, €7.3 million was spent directly on providing playgrounds in 2004.

In recognition of the fact that Ireland has a very poor playground infrastructure and following consultation with my colleagues, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, two playground grants schemes were established as a direct result of publication of the policy, namely the local authority playground grants scheme and the RAPID playground grants scheme. These schemes have resulted in an additional 77 playgrounds being funded in 2004. Some of those playgrounds are under construction.

I will not go into too much detail on these schemes. In outline, the local authority playground grants scheme involved the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government providing up to 50% funding for the development of new, or the renovation of existing, playgrounds in 2004. Approximately €2 million was allocated by the Department to county and city councils under the scheme. Under the RAPID scheme €3 million was jointly made available by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and the Department of Health and Children. That will result in 45 playgrounds being built in RAPID areas. Both the schemes provided capital funding for playgrounds and it was a condition of the schemes that the local authority meet ongoing maintenance costs, including insurance.

I am happy to say that both of these schemes are continuing in 2005 and the local authorities will be receiving letters about them in the coming weeks. The 77 playgrounds funded by these schemes are now beginning to open to the public throughout the country and will represent a significant increase in our playground infrastructure. The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is administering the local authority playground grants scheme in 2005 and I will raise the issue of funding for this year with the Minister.

I would like to add that the Minister has also committed funding to the provision of facilities for older children in 2005 under the skateboarding scheme. His officials will be liaising with my officials in the National Children's Office in relation to this proposal and also in the context of developing recreation policies for those aged between 12 and 18.

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