Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the recent report by the Irish Refugee Council entitled "State Sanctioned Child Poverty and Exclusion: the case of children in accommodation for asylum seekers"; her views on same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40659/12]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The development of the play and recreation policy is an important objective for my Department in view of the positive social and developmental impact of play in the lives of children and young people and its significance in promoting healthy lifestyles. In that regard, research indicates that some 25% of three year olds are either obese or overweight.

National play and recreation policies are implemented by local authorities. Many of the latter have developed world-class recreational facilities and integrated play plans which benefit thousands of children. I am, from the point of view of my Department's remit, trying to encourage a joined-up approach to the development and use of the extensive range of facilities available throughout the country. In February I established the first ever national local authority play and recreation network, which brings together key personnel responsible for local authorities' play and recreation policies. It was extremely interesting to meet staff from the various local authorities and watch them sharing their experiences in the context of developing facilities for children and local communities and learning from each other. That is the benefit of the network.

To date, the network has taken initiatives to promote and expand national play day and national recreation week. Deputies will be aware that when specific activities are arranged for children and families, thousands of people attend. I witnessed thousands of families availing of facilities in Corkagh Park in my constituency when a little bit more was done to try to attract them by providing a range of activities in particular weeks. The network aims to improve co-ordination between local authorities and to provide training and share information in order to facilitate the development of staff expertise. For example, this year some 25 local authorities participated this year in national play day and the events surrounding it. This placed a focus on the kind of activities with which families need to be provided. Plans in train for national recreation week 2012, which will be held at the end of October.

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for her reply. It is heartening that 25 local authorities have participated in the national play day initiative. I hope the Minister will make this initiative compulsory in order that all local authorities will become involved with it. The committee of which Deputy Ó Caoláin and I are members is dealing with the issue of obesity. In that context, it is imperative to highlight the fact that access to play and recreational facilities, particularly those provided by local authorities, has major benefits from the point of view of promoting healthy lifestyles and developing children's self-esteem and their sense of self-identity. It also has economic benefits which can help to reduce the State's expenditure on health and ensure that health care facilities will no longer be clogged up with unfit people.

We have taken a step in the right direction. It must be incumbent on local authorities and developers to provide play areas in new estates. There needs to be a joined up approach. This is a very important piece of work which will have long-term positive advantages for our nation.

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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It is worth noting that in 2004, there were 168 public playgrounds in the country and now there are 900 spread throughout the country. There is now a much greater awareness of the benefits of such facilities on the part of local authorities. As Deputy Buttimer said, there is a need for joined up thinking on this matter. There is a need to focus on this area and all Deputies can play a part in this regard by highlighting why these services and facilities are so essential for children and families. Local authorities have an important role in providing these facilities.

The establishment of the network has been important because some local authorities are doing more than others. There is certainly room for a national initiative to develop this kind of play and recreational facilities. Deputy Buttimer is a member of the Joint Committee on Health and Children and he will be aware of the research on the serious health problems of very young children. We need to ensure a variety of interventions are in place to interrupt that trend. If not, there will be significant implications for the national health policy and for the children themselves.

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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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.

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I refer to Senator Eamonn Coghlan's points for life initiative. This is a pilot project for assessing and improving physical fitness among Irish primary school students and also the Department of Education and Skills' active school flag programme, which is the promotion of physical fitness in Irish primary and secondary schools. I have seen in schools in my local area the value of that programme. Schools win flags for environmental initiatives but this is an initiative to encourage greater physical activity among schoolchildren. The active school flag campaign is a positive initiative on the part of the Department of Education and Skills. More schools throughout the country are becoming involved in the programme. I also refer to Súgradh Ireland which is a registered charitable organisation. Research shows that Irish families are becoming involved in sporting activities because they realise the importance of such activities for the health of their children.