Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 November 2004
145 Mr. Lowry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the details of children’s playgrounds funded through the National Children’s Office to date; if she intends to increase funding for children’s playgrounds in 2005; the number of applications; the amounts granted; the areas grant aided in north Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28253/04]
View answerReady, Steady, Play: A National Play Policy, published on 8 March 2004, 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, as the Minister of State with special responsibility for children, I announced details of the local authority playground grants scheme. 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.
A total of 33 applications for funding were received under the scheme, which requires the city or county council to provide matching funding. Some 32 applications have been approved. The 32 new or refurbished playgrounds to be developed under this scheme will represent a substantial increase in the overall numbers of playgrounds in Ireland. A full list of the grants approved under this scheme are set out in appendix 1. Under the scheme, the grants are payable in arrears by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and it is expected that the playgrounds will be completed in late 2004 or early 2005. A grant of €47,000 has been approved to Tipperary North County Council for a playground in Loughtagalla, Thurles.
Under the RAPID playground grants scheme, funding of €3 million, €1.5 million from the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and €1.5 million from the Department of Health and Children, is being provided in 2004 to support the development of new or refurbishment of existing playgrounds in RAPID areas. Each strand I RAPID area will receive a total allocation of €72,000 and each strand II RAPID area will receive a total allocation of €60,000. The local authority in consultation with the relevant area implementation team selected the project(s) to be supported. All 45 applications for funding were successful and this will result in playgrounds being built in some of the most disadvantaged areas in the country, at the locations set out in appendix 2. There are no RAPID designated areas in north Tipperary and therefore no allocations for funding have been made under this scheme.
No decision regarding funding for playgrounds in 2005 has been made at this time. The Deputy may wish to note that while the NCO, which is fully funded by my Department, has an overall role in supporting implementation of the national play policy, individual Departments retain responsibility for implementation of actions falling within their remit. In the context of playgrounds, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has lead responsibility for this area.
|
Grants approved under the local authority playground grants scheme by location. |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
No. |
Local Authority |
Location of Playground |
Amount Approved |
|
€ |
|||
|
1 |
Carlow County Council |
Leighlinbridge |
40,000 |
|
2 |
Cavan County Council |
Ballyjamesduff |
50,000 |
|
3 |
Clare County Council |
Cloughleigh, Ennis |
50,000 |
|
4 |
Cork City Council |
Loughmahon Park |
70,000 |
|
5 |
Cork County Council |
Charleville |
42,000 |
|
6 |
Donegal County Council |
Donegal Town |
50,000 |
|
7 |
Dublin City Council |
Johnstown Park |
88,000 |
|
8 |
Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council |
Cabinteely |
84,000 |
|
9 |
Fingal County Council |
Millennium Park, Blanchardstown |
140,000 |
|
10 |
Galway City Council |
Castlepark |
64,000 |
|
11 |
Galway County Council |
Loughrea |
100,000 |
|
12 |
Kerry County Council |
Ballybunion |
80,000 |
|
13 |
Kildare County Council |
Kildare Town |
72,000 |
|
14 |
Laois County Council |
Portarlington |
65,000 |
|
15 |
Leitrim County Council |
Mohill |
41,000 |
|
16 |
Limerick City Council |
Shelbourne Park |
89,000 |
|
17 |
Longford County Council |
Granard |
49,000 |
|
18 |
Louth County Council |
Dundalk |
72,000 |
|
19 |
Mayo County Council |
Ballyhaunis |
60,000 |
|
20 |
Meath County Council |
Athboy |
50,000 |
|
21 |
Monaghan County Council |
Newbliss Village |
17,000 |
|
22 |
Offaly County Council |
Tullamore |
70,000 |
|
23 |
Roscommon County Council |
Loughnaneane Park |
90,000 |
|
24 |
Sligo County Council |
Dramore West |
54,000 |
|
25 |
South Dublin County Council |
Tymon Park |
115,000 |
|
26 |
Tipperary (NR) County Council |
Loughtagalla, Thurles |
47,000 |
|
27 |
Tipperary (SR) County Council |
Fair Green, Carrick-On-Suir |
63,000 |
|
28 |
Waterford City Council |
Williamstown |
80,000 |
|
29 |
Waterford County Council |
Tallow |
40,000 |
|
30 |
Westmeath County Council |
Kinnegad |
40,000 |
|
31 |
Wexford County Council |
Enniscorthy |
45,000 |
|
32 |
Wicklow County Council |
Kilmacanogue |
57,000 |
|
Grants approved under the RAPID playground grants scheme by location. |
||
|---|---|---|
|
RAPID — STRAND 1 |
||
|
Area |
Department CRGA |
Department Health & Children |
|
€ |
€ |
|
|
Dublin City Council |
||
|
Dublin South West Inner City (Canals & Kimmage/Crumlin) |
36,000 |
36,000 |
|
Dublin South Inner City |
36,000 |
36,000 |
|
Dublin North West Inner City |
36,000 |
36,000 |
|
Dublin North East Inner City |
36,000 |
36,000 |
|
Dublin South East Inner City |
36,000 |
36,000 |
|
Finglas |
36,000 |
36,000 |
|
Dublin Northside (Darndale/Belcamp) |
36,000 |
36,000 |
|
Dublin Ballymun |
36,000 |
36,000 |
|
Fingal County Council |
||
|
Blanchardstown |
36,000 |
36,000 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
||
|
Tallaght — Killinarden |
36,000 |
36,000 |
|
Tallaght — Fettercairn |
36,000 |
36,000 |
|
Tallaght — Jobstown |
36,000 |
36,000 |
|
Clondalkin |
36,000 |
36,000 |
|
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown |
||
|
Dún Laoghaire |
36,000 |
36,000 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
||
|
Bray |
36,000 |
36,000 |
|
Louth County Council |
||
|
Dundalk |
36,000 |
36,000 |
|
Drogheda |
36,000 |
36,000 |
|
Cork City Council |
||
|
Knocknaheeney/Churchfield |
36,000 |
36,000 |
|
Fairhill/Garranabraher/Farranree |
36,000 |
36,000 |
|
Blackpool/The Glen/Mayfield |
36,000 |
36,000 |
|
Togher/Mahon |
36,000 |
36,000 |
|
Limerick City Council |
||
|
Ballynanty/Kileely |
36,000 |
36,000 |
|
Kings Island |
36,000 |
36,000 |
|
South Limerick City |
36,000 |
36,000 |
|
Waterford City Council |
||
|
Waterford |
36,000 |
36,000 |
|
Area |
Department CRGA |
Department Health & Children |
|
€ |
€ |
|
|
Westmeath County Council |
||
|
Athlone |
30,000 |
30,000 |
|
Kildare County Council |
||
|
Athy |
30,000 |
30,000 |
|
Galway County Council |
||
|
Ballinasloe |
30,000 |
30,000 |
|
Tuam |
30,000 |
30,000 |
|
Cavan County Council |
||
|
Cavan |
30,000 |
30,000 |
|
South Tipperary County Council |
||
|
Carrick-on-Suir |
30,000 |
30,000 |
|
Clonmel |
30,000 |
30,000 |
|
Tipperary |
30,000 |
30,000 |
|
Carlow County Council |
||
|
Carlow |
30,000 |
30,000 |
|
Clare County Council |
||
|
Ennis |
30,000 |
30,000 |
|
Galway City Council |
||
|
Galway |
30,000 |
30,000 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
||
|
Kilkenny |
30,000 |
30,000 |
|
Longford County Council |
||
|
Longford |
30,000 |
30,000 |
|
Cork County Council |
||
|
Mallow |
30,000 |
30,000 |
|
Youghal |
30,000 |
30,000 |
|
Meath County Council |
||
|
Navan |
30,000 |
30,000 |
|
Wexford County Council |
||
|
New Ross |
30,000 |
30,000 |
|
Wexford |
30,000 |
30,000 |
|
Sligo County Council |
||
|
Sligo |
30,000 |
30,000 |
|
Kerry County Council |
||
|
Tralee |
30,000 |
30,000 |
