Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the work. However, will the Minister agree that it was a significant error that during the boom times we did not make it mandatory for local authorities and developers when they were creating vast estates in urban Ireland in particular not to include playgrounds and recreational facilities as part of any development? We allowed developers to run amok in parts of Cork city and Dublin city. They did not acknowledge the need for facilities to allow for recreation and leisure and to promote the health and well-being of the residents. Even at this time of economic recession when developers are not as plentiful as they were, I hope the Minister and her colleagues in government will learn from the mistakes of the past and make plans to provide a healthy lifestyle for all our citizens.

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