Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 507: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the funding available to groups for the provision of a skate board park; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23557/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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In May 2005, I introduced a new initiative for the provision of skateboard facilities by local authorities. Each City and County Council was invited to submit expressions of interest for grant assistance towards the provision of a skateboard park in its area. Applications were assessed in my Department in conjunction with the National Children's Office and some 21 projects in 21 different local authority areas were recommended for grant aid. A sum of €1 million had initially been earmarked for the scheme in 2005 but, in light of the number and quality of submissions received, I approved all 21 projects in November 2005 and increased the funding allocation to over €2 million which is expected to be spent over a two year period.

Grants for skateboard park facilities are not provided by my Department directly to bodies other than local authorities.