Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 1164: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he or his Department has plans to introduce grants for skate board parks in major towns; the funding that will be provided; the time scale involved for such funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21052/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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An initiative for the provision of skateboard facilities by local authorities was introduced in 2005. 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, all 21 projects were approved in November 2005 and the funding allocation was increased to over €2 million.

Grants amounting to €654,377 in respect of 9 of those projects have been drawn down by local authorities to date. An assessment of the overall scheme will be made by my Department when full information is available on completion of all the projects in those local authorities currently approved for grant aid.