Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

236. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development in tabular form per county, the number and value of playground grants provided for 2023, 2022 and 2021. [10883/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department recognises the importance of playgrounds in communities throughout Ireland. Applications for the delivery and upgrade of playgrounds are welcome under a number of schemes operated by my Department such as the CLÁR Programme, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS), the LEADER programme, and the Community Enhancement Programme (CEP). In 2023 I launched the Community Recognition Fund (CRF) which also provides funding towards playgrounds.

The CLÁR programme provides funding for small-scale projects in rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population. Since the programme was relaunched in 2016, it has supported a wide range of measures, including investment in playgrounds.

My Department's TVRS also provides funding avenues, with playground facilities often forming part of wider amenity projects put forward for funding. The 2023 TVRS is now closed and the competitive assessment process is currently ongoing. I expect to be in a position to announce the successful projects before the end of Quarter 1 of 2024.

Support under the LEADER programme is provided under a broad range of themes, including Rural Infrastructure & Social Inclusion. Funding for playgrounds has been provided under this theme. As with TVRS, LEADER funded projects often have multiple elements, of which playgrounds can be a constituent element.

The Community Enhancement Programme provides capital funding to community groups in disadvantaged areas across Ireland, and similarly playgrounds can form a part of the project. The CEP is administered on behalf of my Department locally by Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) across the country, with support from their local authority.

The Community Recognition Fund recognises the huge efforts made by communities in welcoming and supporting people coming to Ireland. Through this initiative, communities are being assisted to develop projects such as large-scale multi-purpose sports facilities, skateboard parks, walkways, cycle paths, playgrounds, equipment for sports clubs and community festivals.

The table attached to my response provides details of funding provided specifically for playgrounds on a county basis under the various schemes mentioned above over the years 2021, 2022 and 2023. The CRF scheme was established in 2023 and as such there are no figures for earlier periods.

My Department provides significant funding towards the establishment and improvement of playgrounds across the country and intends to continue to do so. These are vital community spaces for children and parents, and my Department has the schemes and funding in place to support their continued development.