Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 December 2015
21. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the national play and recreation policy; if this policy is being amended to provide for play and recreation space and time for children experiencing homelessness given the lack of play and recreation facilities in this type of emergency accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42537/15]
View answerI and my Government colleagues are extremely concerned about the issue of homelessness. The Government continues to work hard to house families living in hotel rooms and guest houses.
Play and recreation facilities are important to children and young people in all settings, including in the type of emergency accommodation referred to by the Deputy. Most emergency accommodation is not equipped with play and recreation facilities. This is one of the areas highlighted in Ready Steady Play! - A National Play Policy, which was published in 2004 with a five year lifespan.
The National Recreation Policy, teenspace, aims to provide strategic direction to Government departments, Local Authorities, the youth sector, the community and voluntary sectors, and other interested parties, to develop recreational opportunities for young people in an informed and appropriate manner. Among their other objectives, both policies seek to maximise the range of play or recreational opportunities available for children and young people who are marginalised, disadvantaged or who have a disability.
My Department supports the implementation of the objectives of the National Play Policy and the National Recreation Policy through the provision of funding for National Play Day and National Recreation Week Activities. A capital grant funding scheme for play and recreation was introduced in 2013 to provide capital funding to support new and existing play and recreation facilities for all children and young people.
My Department also provides funding to support the provision of youth services by the voluntary youth services. An amount of €2.75m in capital funding has been allocated to my Department in Budget 2016 for voluntary youth services. In the main, this funding will be used to support smaller scale projects, such as refurbishments, health and safety works, and accessibility improvements in youth services, including those that provide services for disadvantaged young people, including young people at risk of homelessness.
