Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Question 121: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason for his decision to withdraw without notice funding for the local authority playground grant scheme which provided for €120,000 grant aid per local authority for the construction of playgrounds; his views on whether many playground projects countrywide which had matching funding in place in anticipation of this grant aid being available may now have to be abandoned; if he will give serious consideration to reinstating this grant in view of the crucial importance of playground facilities in the fight against childhood obesity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22289/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Ready, Steady Play: A National Play Policy, which was published in 2004, provides a framework for the development of public play facilities in Ireland, with the overall aim of ensuring that children have access to a range of quality play opportunities to enrich their childhood. As part of the implementation of this policy, my Department has allocated funding of over €8 million to County and City Councils for the development of 167 new or refurbished playgrounds since 2004. Grant aid of approximately €4.1m in respect of over 80 playgrounds remains to be drawn down from my Department by local authorities.

There has been no decision to withdraw funding from these schemes. The question of inviting further proposals from local authorities is being kept under review in the light of experience gained under the current schemes.