Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The capital grant funding scheme in my Department for play and recreation was introduced in 2013 to support the development or refurbishment of play and recreation facilities. A total of €250,000 was provided each year between 2013 and 2018 for new and innovative play and recreation spaces and facilities, with a maximum grant allocation of €20,000 per local authority. Each local authority was required to match funding of the amount requested from my Department.

In 2017, 21 local authorities received funding under the scheme. Tipperary local authority applied for €20,000 and was awarded €8,000 for the refurbishment and replacement of the safety surface at Templemore Park playground. In 2018, 26 local authorities received funding. Tipperary applied for €12,500 and was awarded €7,500. This funding was for the refurbishment of Fair Green playground, Carrick-on-Suir, and the refurbishment of Duneske playground, Cahir, County Tipperary. In 2019, I increased the amount of capital funding available under this scheme from €250,000 to €450,000. In consultation with the local authority play and recreation network, we agreed to allocate a maximum of €30,000 per local authority for the upgrade and refurbishment of existing play and recreation facilities. This includes the provision of new equipment, the development of natural play local authority play and recreation network areas, and the refurbishment of existing play facilities. The local authority is required to provide 25% of the funding requested from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs for the application to be considered.

In 2019, Tipperary local authority applied for €28,350 and was awarded €21,262 for the refurbishment and rehabilitation of the multi-use games area in Three Drives, Carronreddy, Tipperary town. A total of 23 local authorities also received funding.

There is continual engagement between my Department and the local authority play and recreation network to ensure that the play and recreation scheme is highlighted at a local and national level.

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