Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 392: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his Department's plans to tackle the lack of play facilities in designated areas of disadvantage, such as the CLÁR and RAPID areas; and if he will report on same. [9000/06]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that my Department already offers a wide range of schemes which support play facilities in disadvantaged areas. The CLÁR primary school outdoor play facilities enhancement scheme is co-funded equally by CLÁR and the Department of Education and Science at a total cost of €2.4 million, made up of €1.2 million from each. The scheme aims to improve outdoor play facilities in small rural primary schools in CLÁR areas. The type of projects being funded cover grassing and tarmacadam of play areas, the supply of goalposts, nets, basketball hoops, etc. and other recreational facilities for outdoor play areas.

Under the CLÁR village and countryside enhancement scheme and the CLÁR local authority housing estate enhancement scheme funding is available for community playgrounds and the enhancement of play area projects. The CLÁR village and countryside enhancement is co-funded equally between the LEADER groups, a community contribution, CLÁR and the local authorities. The local authority housing estate enhancement scheme is co-funded by CLÁR and the local authorities with a community contribution.

Under the minor health funding measures for 2004-06 CLÁR is providing co-funding with the Health Service Executive, HSE, on the basis of €2 from the HSE for each €1 from CLÁR. Projects selected for funding include small scale capital projects. The measure provides for the construction of outdoor play areas and for the provision of equipment for playgroups.

Under the RAPID leverage playground grants scheme, run in 2004 and 2005, a total of €6 million has been allocated to the 45 RAPID areas to support the development of new playgrounds or the refurbishment of existing playgrounds. Both these schemes were funded on a 50-50 basis by my Department and the Department of Health and Children through the Health Service Executive. In each area the local authority consulted with the RAPID area implementation team to agree the precise nature and location of the playgrounds to be funded.

In 2004, each strand 1 RAPID area was allocated €72,000 and each strand 2 area was allocated €60,000. In 2005, the areas in strand 1 and 2 were allocated the same amount of €66,000 each. A decision on funding for 2006 for the playground grants scheme will be taken shortly.

The dormant accounts fund disbursements board has approved funding of €1,385,397 for 22 groups to enhance play facilities in disadvantaged areas. The drawdown of funding is subject to the satisfactory completion of legal contracts with individual groups.

Details of the approved projects funded by dormant accounts are as follows.

My Department has received an application from Galway County Council for assistance with the cost of constructing play facilities on Inis Oirr, County Galway. This application is being evaluated in the context of the funding available to me for island development and the various demands on that funding.