Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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661. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will confirm the financial supports that are available for investment in capital infrastructure for a community playgroup (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39796/16]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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My Department administers a Capital Grant Funding Scheme for Play and Recreation. The Schemewas introduced in 2013 to support new and existing play and recreation facilities for children and young people. The total amount of funding available under the Scheme in any year is €250,000, with a maximum grant of €20,000 to any Local Authority.

Applications are invited for projects providing:

- New and innovative play and recreation spaces and facilities (New and innovative projects can include new facilities, equipment, designs and /or the utilisation of non- traditional play spaces)

- Refurbishment or upgrading of existing play and recreation spaces and facilities

Funding criteria for the Scheme were developed in conjunction with the Local Area Play and Recreation Network (LAPRN), a group established in 2012 to introduce a more coordinated and interagency approach to achieving the main goals of the play and recreation policies, at both national and local level. The following criteria are applied to applications:

- Play and recreation spaces and facilities must be available for use by all children and young people in the locality at times when they are free to use them i.e. outside of school hours

- All facilities and equipment must be accessibleto children and young people with additional needs

- All facilities and equipment must be youth-friendly and safe

- All projects funded under the scheme must provide evidence, or a commitment to providing evidence, that children and young people have been or will be consulted about the project for which funding is requested

- All projects funded under the scheme must provide confirmation that No Smoking signage will be displayed in play spaces and facilities funded under this scheme.

Community groups can apply to this Scheme through the Local Authority in which the facility/equipment will be available. Matched funding is a requirement of the Scheme and can be in the form of funds raise by voluntary groups, or a Local Authority contribution of finance or in kind funding.

Subject to the availability of funds, applications will be invited in early 2017.