Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 247: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of playgrounds which have now been opened following the publication of the "ready steady play" policy and using funding provided to local authorities for this purpose; the areas in which these facilities have been provided; the areas they are planned to be built or are under construction; if her Department has consulted with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government or local authorities regarding the maintenance and running costs of such facilities; and the age range of children the facility has been provided for; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28755/05]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Significant progress has been made since the publication of "Ready, Steady, Play! A National Play Policy" in increasing the availability and quality of playgrounds for children. Two grant schemes were put in place in 2004 as a direct result of the publication of the policy to provide for increased play provision for children, as follows. The local authority playground grants scheme, launched in 2004, was jointly administered by the National Children's Office, NCO, and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and provided up to 50% funding for the development of new, or renovation of existing, playgrounds. A total of just over €2 million was allocated by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to the county and city councils under the scheme. The 32 new or refurbished playgrounds being developed under this scheme represent a total investment of approximately €4,200,000 and the locations are set out in Appendix 1.

The scheme was continued in 2005 with some changes. On this occasion the scheme was wholly administered by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Each local authority was allocated a grant of €60,000 to meet the cost of purchase and delivery of playground equipment which could be spent on one or more facilities. The total expenditure under this scheme in 2005 is €2,040,000 and the locations are set out in Appendix 2.

The RAPID playground grants scheme was also launched in 2004. Funding of €3 million —€1.5 million from the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and €1.5 million from the Department of Health and Children — was provided to support the development of new or refurbishment of existing playgrounds in RAPID areas. Each Strand I RAPID area received a total allocation of €72,000 and each Strand II RAPID area received a total allocation of €60,000. The local authority in consultation with the relevant area implementation team selected the projects to be supported. A total of 22 playgrounds have been built, to date, in some of the most disadvantaged areas in the country, at the locations set out in Appendix 3. This scheme was also continued in 2005 with RAPID areas again receiving grants totalling €3 million.

It was a condition of both schemes outlined above, drawn up in consultation with the Departments of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, that insurance and maintenance costs of playgrounds built under the scheme would be met by the local authority.

While playgrounds are usually aimed at pre-school and primary school children, some of the playgrounds funded under the schemes were for older children, particularly in the large Dublin areas. The most recent figures available to the NCO suggest that a total of 43 playgrounds have been completed and are now open to the public since the publication of the play policy. It should be noted that in recent years, many local authorities have been putting additional investment into play facilities over and above the matching funding required in the scheme outlined above, thus further increasing the numbers of playgrounds.

While the NCO, which is fully funded by my Department, has an overall role in supporting implementation of the national play policy, individual Departments retain responsibility for implementation of actions falling within their remit. In the context of playgrounds, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has lead responsibility in relation to the provision of playgrounds.