Written answers
Tuesday, 23 October 2007
Department of Health and Children
Community Development
10:00 pm
Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 272: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the funding supports available in his Department for community groups wishing to build a children's playground. [25439/07]
Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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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. While the Office of the Minister for Children has an overall role in supporting implementation of the Play Policy, individual Departments retain responsibility for implementation of actions falling within their remit. The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has lead responsibility in relation to the provision of funding to local authorities for playgrounds.
The Department of Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and the HSE have co-funded the development of new playgrounds or refurbishment of existing playgrounds in RAPID areas since 2004. A new scheme for 2008 was announced in July of this year with â¬3m available. Local Authorities will consult with each RAPID Area Implementation Team to agree the precise nature and location of the playgrounds to be funded. When the 2008 scheme finishes a total of â¬12m will have been provided for the funding of playgrounds in RAPID areas since 2004.
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