Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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982. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps she has taken to publish both new play and recreation policies since the 2016 review of the National Play Policy 2004-2008 and the national recreation policy published in 2007 was completed in October 2016; the stage the development of these new policies are at; when the new policies will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45575/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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My department has responsibility for the objectives of the National Play Policy and the National Recreation Policy, falling under the National Children’s Strategy.

My department provides funding through the local authorities for National Play Day and National Recreation Week activities. In 2018, a total of €78,000 was awarded to 20 local authorities for these activities. Additionally, a capital grant funding scheme for play and recreation was introduced in 2013 to provide capital funding to support new and existing play and recreation facilities for all children and young people.  In 2018, €250,000 was awarded to 26 local authorities under this scheme.

The Department also works with the Local Authority for Play and Recreation Network (LAPRN). The LAPRN was established to bring a more coordinated approach to the implementation of the National Play and Recreation policies, and this Department works closely with the group to develop and promote improved play and recreation facilities.

A review of public policy on play and recreation in Ireland was commissioned in July 2016 with a report submitted in Q4 2016. Consideration has been given to the recommendations of this report and it is anticipated that the review of the public policy on play and recreation will be published in due course. Additionally a mapping exercise of playgrounds, MUGA’s (multi-use games areas), skate-parks, parks, public forestry and beaches across the country was conducted in collaboration with DCU in 2018.

Next steps will be progressed in the context of commitments under a new Early Years strategy to be published by my Department shortly.