Vol. 529 No. 2
91 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation his views on the need to incorporate sporting, leisure and amenity facilities as part of new residential housing developments; the plans he has in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2489/01]
The aims and objectives of the sports capital programme administered by my Department are to develop an integrated and planned approach to the development of sport and recreational facilities, to assist voluntary and community organisations with the development of appropriate facilities in locations that will maximise use in terms of participation in sport and recreation, to prioritise the needs of disadvantaged areas in the provision of facilities and to encourage the multi-purpose use of facilities at national, regional and community level by clubs, community organisations and national governing bodies of sport. It is open to any group meeting these objectives to apply for funding under this year's programme for which the closing date for receipt of completed applications is 9 February 2001.
I am informed by my colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Environment and Local Government, Deputy Molloy, that the provision of open spaces, recreational and sports facilities and amenity areas specifically in local authority housing schemes is a matter for the individual housing authorities in the first instance. In this context I refer the Deputy to the reply to Question No. 866 of 30 January 2001.
