Vol. 560 No. 1
630 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Health and Children the policies the Government has in place to encourage the construction of public playgrounds; the efforts which have been made to establish satisfactory insurance cover for these playgrounds; the way in which Ireland compares statistically with other EU states on the provision of public playgrounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1145/03]
The national children's strategy, published in November 2000, contains a commitment that: "Children will have access to play, sport, recreation and cultural activities to enrich their experience of childhood."
Local authorities are and always have been empowered to provide play, recreational and amenity areas. While the number of public playgrounds is low, research undertaken in 1997, when the previous Government took office, indicated that 46% of local authorities did not provide playgrounds. This figure has now been reduced to 12% at end 2002. Significant development in public play facilities has occurred since it was identified as an issue for children in the national children's strategy. Most counties' strategies for economic, social and cultural development now include a reference to play and play facilities.
A recent survey of local authorities indicated that there are 167 local authority provided public playgrounds with fixed play components, one public skate park and six additional public playgrounds provided by Dúchas. As in other countries, public play infrastructure is supported and developed at a local government level. I am unaware of any published statistical comparisons on public playgrounds provision at a national level in other EU states. However, I do know that the city of Edinburgh provides 153 public playgrounds to serve a population of approximately 500,000. I am led to understand that Sweden has some 50,000 public playgrounds serving a population of almost 9 million, but this has not been confirmed.
The issue of insurance for play facilities will be addressed within the context of the new play policy for the under 12s, which I will bring to the Government before Easter. Playgrounds provided by local authorities are insured through Irish Public Bodies Mutual Insurance Limited. To date, that body has not experienced a significant level of claims relating to playgrounds by comparison to claims relating to accidents occurring on paths or other public areas. However it must be kept in mind that the balance between risk and challenge is an essential element of play and needs to be viewed as such to ensure quality play environments for children.
