Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 150: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the criteria used to allocate funding for skateboard parks nationally, including the date each application was made to his Department; the amount allocated to each successful applicant; the proportion of the expected cost allocated in each case; the reason the application for Drogheda was not successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35097/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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On 18 May 2005 my Department invited each city and county council to apply for grant assistance towards the provision of one skateboard park in its area. All applications received were evaluated on a competitive basis by my Department in conjunction with the National Children's Office having regard to the following criteria which had been notified to local authorities at the time applications were sought: design, layout and location of the proposed park; perceived demand for a facility in the area and potential usage; cost of the project; projected time scale within which the project is to be commenced and completed; ability of the local authority to complete the project in the time scale proposed; availability of a site; arrangements for ongoing management and maintenance; and general quality of the proposal.

The information requested in respect of each of the applications is set out in the following table.

In the case of County Louth, Louth County Council submitted two proposals and was, accordingly, asked to prioritise them. The council indicated on 4 October 2005 that it had decided to give priority to the Dundalk proposal, which was subsequently approved for a grant.