Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 656: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the meetings he or his officials have had or are proposing to have with the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism to discuss a common and agreed platform of guidelines in relation to the development of recreational and sporting facilities that will match the commitment contained in the Programme for Government to implement a major programme to promote rural recreation and sport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12471/08]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 657: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the €150 million community development fund promised in the Programme for Government has been established; the amount paid out to date from the fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12480/08]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 658: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress made with regard to the community development plan promised in the Programme for Government; if the €150 million community development fund promised in the Programme for Government has been established; the amount paid out to date from the fund; the amount projected to be paid out during 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12631/08]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 659: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress made with regard to the community development plan promised in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12479/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 656 to 659, inclusive, together.

The Programme for Government provides for a Community Development Plan, underpinned by a Fund of €150m, to be established over a five year period. The Plan will deal with the provision of community facilities such as playgrounds, community centres, local markets, recycling, sports and recreational facilities and will be implemented in a way which maximises impact on local communities and complements existing relevant programmes.

As a first step, and in keeping with the recommendation in the Task Force Report on Active Citizenship, an audit of community, sports and arts facilities at local level is being undertaken during 2008 by each county and city council, under the auspices of the relevant County/City Development Board. My Department has recently issued guidelines in relation to the audit to county and city councils. These guidelines were developed over a number of meetings in consultation with the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, the Department of the Taoiseach and local authorities. A Steering Group representative of these bodies, as well as the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, will oversee the audits. Once the audits have been completed and any necessary analysis of the results has been carried out, the Plan will be developed.