Vol. 508 No. 3
117 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his views on the fact that only half the local authorities who responded to a survey are providing playgrounds for children; and the plans, if any, he has to introduce a coherent policy to ensure that all local authorities provide the opportunity for children to play. [18769/99]
Under the Local Government Act, 1994, local authorities are empowered to provide, operate and maintain parks and open spaces for amenity and recreational purposes. It is a matter for each local authority to determine the extent to which resources ought to be applied to the provision of such parks and open spaces, which may include playgrounds.
The provision of open spaces, recreational facilities, amenity areas, etc. specifically in local authority housing schemes is also a matter for the individual housing authorities in the first instance. Appropriate limited facilities of this kind are funded as part of the cost of a housing scheme from my Department's capital allocations where the work is undertaken in conjunction with the provision of new local authority housing or the refurbishment of existing housing under the remedial works scheme.
