Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 312: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the planning policies developed for urban and rural housing, transport, amenity spaces and workplace settings to encourage spontaneous increases in physical activity in adults and children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9501/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The National Spatial Strategy and Regional Planning Guidelines identify improved social, amenity and cultural infrastructure as being key to achieving the objective of improving quality of life and providing better places for people to live. In turn, these aims are translated into concrete policies and actions in county and city development plans, as well as through local area plans, where the provision of community, sport and other recreational facilities and amenities have a key role in delivering on this objective.

Under the Planning and Development Act 2000, local authorities must have regard to requirements regarding recreation and amenities in preparing their development plans. Section 10(2) of the Act requires development plans to include objectives for the preservation, improvement and extension of amenities and recreational amenities and also the provision, or facilitation of the provision, of services for the community. Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Development Plans which were issued by my Department in 2007 emphasise the objectives for the provision of public open space and recreation space including space/places for children to play and the preservation, improvement and extension of amenities and recreational amenities.

Last month, I published for public consultation draft Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas. These draft guidelines, which are accompanied by a best practice Urban Design Manual, are designed to support the development of sustainable communities through high-quality standards in terms of the design and layout of new residential areas which are properly integrated with good transport links, community and recreation facilities. They aim, inter alia, to encourage walking and cycling and reduce car dependency, policies which have been developed in consultation with the Department of Transport, and which are aligned with the draft Sustainable Transport and Travel Action Plan.