Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 April 2004
562 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Health and Children the grants which have been awarded to organisations in County Wexford in respect of playgrounds area play equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11516/04]
View answerThe issue of provision of play facilities for children in Ireland has been addressed in the recently published Ready, Steady, Play: A National Play Policy. This policy, published on 8 March, provides a framework for the development of public play facilities in Ireland, with the overall aim of ensuring that children have access to a range of quality play opportunities to enrich their childhood. At the launch of the policy, the Minister of State with special responsibility for children, Deputy Brian Lenihan, announced details of a €1 million grant scheme for local authorities. The purpose of the scheme, which is being jointly administered by the National Children's Office, NCO, and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, is to enhance the provision of publicly provided playgrounds around the country through the development of new and refurbishment of existing playgrounds.
The scheme comprises of two stages. Under stage 1, applications for funding where sought from all city and county councils in March. Local authorities were asked to nominate one project and to agree to fulfil a number of criteria relating to it. The closing date for this stage has now passed. Applications successful in this stage will be invited to proceed to the second stage which involves the local authorities putting forward a more detailed outline of their proposal. It is expected that the results of stage 1 will issue shortly. Wexford County Council made an application in regard to a project in Templeshannon, Enniscorthy. The NCO and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government have begun the evaluation of the applications and a letter will issue shortly indicating whether the Wexford County Council proposal was successful in stage 1. It is anticipated that a final decision on which local authority will be receiving a grant, as well as the level of the grant, will be made in June. At this point the NCO will indicate to successful city and county councils what level of funding will be made available to them.
The funding for the scheme is held in the vote of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the money will be disbursed by that Department. No other grant scheme in relation to playgrounds is being administered by the National Children's Office or the Department of Health and Children at present.
