David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for her comprehensive and well put-together response. I will pick one or two things out of it. Her written response states that a "local authority may take such measures" and, subsequently, that the "local authority shall include" provision of both indoor and outdoor playing pitches and so on. When this does not happen, who pulls the local authority up on it and says it should do it? Is it is the Planning Regulator or the Minister? Is there any recourse when it does not happen?

I draw the Minister of State's attention to today’sIrish Examiner. The editorial refers to the National Building Agency, a semi-State body set up to build a lot of houses quickly. It did that but ended up with developments in certain areas that did not have services such as shops, playgrounds or sports facilities, which can bind communities and help them develop. Many of these areas had social problems afterwards because there was nowhere for the children to play.

I am all for having open spaces, parks and green areas, but we also need sporting and community facilities where organised events such as running, swimming, various field games, indoor games and so on can take place. Some areas in the country have no community hall, for instance. The Minister, Deputy Humphreys, is doing some work on that at the moment. It falls back on the local community and local volunteers to provide these.

Community work is quite advanced in Mayo. I call on the Government to discuss this with all local authorities to ensure that in places where there are no community facilities, land is zoned to make it happen. It can also happen through NAMA. Otherwise, we are stirring up trouble for the future leaving young people with nothing to do and all day to do it. When I was Minister of State, I visited some communities that were in chaos because they did not have any facilities. The volunteers and local people were crying out for them. I am doing that again this evening. I hope the Minister of State and the Government will listen.

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