Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 629: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress made regarding the commitment in the Programme for Government to increase the development of public play and recreation areas for children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29344/08]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, 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.

In addition to the Play Policy, Teenspace National Recreation Policy for Young People was launched in September 2007. The policy provides a strategic framework for the promotion of positive recreational opportunities aimed principally at young people aged 12 to 18. The policy adopts an evidence-based approach and makes proposals to address issues which emerged from a public consultation process which was undertaken by my Office and was also informed through the findings of independent research commissioned by my Office.

While the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs has an overall role in supporting implementation of the play and recreation policies, actions fall to be implemented by a wide range of government departments and agencies. The Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the Department of Sports, Arts and Tourism and the Department of Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs all have schemes and programmes which support the development of appropriate facilities. Other Departments and Agencies have schemes and programmes which also contribute to overall development of recreational opportunities more generally.

In terms of the planning process for improved play and recreational facilities, the Planning and Development Act 2000 makes a number of provisions aimed at embedding improved planning of social and community and cultural requirements for communities. The Act also expressly supports the provision, or facilitation of the provision, of services for the community including, in particular, schools, crèches and other education and childcare facilities. Community facilities falling within this mandatory objective can include facilities for children's play including playgrounds, skateboard parks and other facilities, libraries and community halls. Development contributions can also be sought by planning authorities to help pay for facilities servicing new developments such as community and other recreational amenities. Section 48 allows for open spaces and recreational and community facilities and amenities to be provided under a development contribution scheme.

Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Development Plans, published in June 2007, emphasise the objectives for the provision of public open space and recreation space, including space and places for children to play, and the preservation, improvement and extension of amenities and recreational amenities. While is ultimately a matter for the members of the local authority, as planning authority in their area, to determine the level of contribution and the types of development to which the scheme will apply, the emphasis on improved planning and provision is embedded in the development process.

Under the Sports Capital Programme, which is administered by the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, funding is allocated to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country. Through the Sports Capital Programme Government has invested considerable sums into important sporting infrastructure with allocations made of over €725 million in more than 7,340 separate sports projects since 1998. This investment has transformed the Irish sporting landscape with improved facilities in virtually every village, town and community in the country. Some Sports Capital Programme allocations have been made to assist grantees, in particular Local Authorities, in the provision of public play and recreation areas such as multi-use games areas and skate parks.

It terms of children specific projects, 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. The 2008 Scheme has made €3m available for the development of playgrounds. The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government have also provided Playground Grants and Skateboard Grants Schemes between 2004 and 2006. A Primary School Outdoor Facilities Enhancement Scheme was also funded under CLÁR programme in 2004/5. Since the publication of the Play Policy, over €28m has been allocated to the provision of play facilities which has resulted in the development of an additional 300 play facilities throughout the country. In addition to the development of these play facilities, up to €1 million has been allocated, via dormant accounts funding, for a Playbus Scheme. This measure is intended to provide interventions that support the family unit, by providing play development and parenting development outreach services to children and their parents, experiencing social exclusion in disadvantaged and isolated areas. Applications under this scheme are currently being processed. My Office is also actively working on the development of a youth café programme as set out in the Programme for Government. The National Children's Advisory Council has reported recently to me on this matter and further work is underway to bring a more strategic approach to existing funding arrangements, clearer standards and criteria for the development of new cafés.

My Office is continuing to monitor, promote and support the development of play and recreational opportunities for children and young people with this wide range of stakeholders.