Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 112: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if any schemes are available for the provision of playgrounds within communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10040/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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While there is no specific funding allocation available to my Department for the provision of playgrounds, the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2007-2013 has funding of €425m available to be allocated to qualifying projects up to the end of 2013. One of the objectives of the RDP is to identify and provide appropriate cultural and leisure facilities to local communities not otherwise available to them and, in principle, it is possible that playgrounds could be eligible under the RDP. There are 36 Local Action Groups contracted, on my Department's behalf, to deliver the RDP throughout the country and these Groups are the principal decision-makers in relation to the allocation of project funding. Such decisions are made in the context of the individual Group's local development strategy and in line with my Department's operating rules and EU regulations.