Mr Dick Roche, TD., Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, today (18th May) announced that his Department will provide record funding of €2 million to local authorities for the provision of playground facilities and €1 million for skateboard parks.

Each City and County Council is today being allocated €60,000 for the provision of playground facilities. "I have made adjustments to the scheme this year in order to make it easier for County Councils to spend the monies I am allocating. The allocation to each City Council and County Council is on a cash basis and I urge the Councils to get a move on with the job of providing these facilities," the Minister said. The monies can be spent on one or more facilities by the councils.

The Minister welcomed this initiative and commented that 'any additional funding for these type of facilities is very welcome as I am acutely aware of the lack of specialist facilities for young people'.
In addition, the Minister has introduced a new pilot scheme to provide funding for skateboard facilities. Each City and County Council is being asked to submit expressions of interest of such proposals. When these are evaluated, a number will be selected for funding. An extra €1 million has been allocated for this purpose. "This €3 million is in addition to the €1.6 million of the 2004 allocation which was carried forward to this year as local authorities were not in a position to draw it down. Effectively €4.6 million in total is made available for playgrounds and skateboard parks this year," added the Minister.

"I am delighted to be in a position to announce this record funding package and I am asking local authorities to ensure that the full allocation is spent this year. With regard to the expressions of interest for Skateboard Parks I am asking local authorities to think outside the box and bring forward imaginative and innovative projects." concluded Minister Roche