Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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85. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the specific central or EU funding available to support local authorities and communities to deliver public parks and green space; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12416/21]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Section 67 of the Local Government Act 2001 is the primary legislative, statutory and regulatory framework for the provision of public green space. This provides that a local authority may take measures or engage in activities that it considers necessary to promote the interests of the local community in relation to matters such as general recreational and leisure activities, including the provision of parks and open spaces With regard to the provision of open space and amenities in tandem with new development, these may also be addressed within the County Development Plan, or in subsequent Local Area Plans.

While local authorities receive a substantial part of their annual funding from a range of central government departments and agencies, including from my Department, they also have the capacity to raise their own resources. For example, Section 48 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, makes provision for development contribution schemes, which may establish the requirement for the payment of a financial contribution as a condition of planning permission for development, for public infrastructure and facilities.

Within this framework, it is a matter for each local authority to consider the position in relation to how funding is allocated for their functions.