Youth groups in Dun Laoghaire – Rathdown encouraged to apply for funding.

Fine Gael Dun Laoghaire TD, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, has welcomed the announcement of €2.25 million in capital funding which is being made available to build and develop youth cafes and to support recreational facilities in Dun Laoghaire – Rathdown and beyond.

Deputy Mitchell O’ Connor encouraged youth groups and local organisations to apply for funding if they have not already done so.

“The Minister for Children, Frances Fitzgerald TD, is making €2.25 million available so that children across Ireland will have safe, drug and alcohol free places to play and to enable local communities to embark on youth projects which will deliver play facilities for our children.

“The funding will be made up of €500,000 for youth cafes this year, for which applications have already being received and are currently being assessed. One and a half million euro will go towards youth capital projects next year, including further youth cafes, and €250,000 will be available for play and recreation initiatives. This funding will be accessible, in part, through local authorities with further details of the project scheme being announced by the Department of Children & Youth Affairs in the coming weeks.

“I would encourage local groups, clubs and organisations in Dun Laoghaire – Rathdown to apply for funding so that local children and young people can be given the chance to avail of a suitable place to play and an environment that facilitates growth, development and physical activity.

“So many of our children are living increasingly sedentary lives with the result that obesity is on the rise. It is up to us to ensure that children are getting the physical exercise they need so that they are not beset with heart disease and other illnesses down the line.

“This Government has put children front and centre of policy decisions. For the first time ever we have a Minister for Children whose sole focus is on making Ireland a better place for our children to live. Our children’s emotional, social and physical wellbeing is dependent upon the decisions we make on their behalf. That is why a new National Play and Recreation Network was established earlier this year to oversee the delivery of local play and recreation services in communities like Dun Laoghaire – Rathdown and across the country. It is also why the Government is campaigning so hard for a Yes vote on Saturday in the Children’s Referendum.

“I would encourage everyone who cares about our children’s futures to ensure they go out to vote next weekend and for local clubs and organisations to ensure they avail of youth facility funding which will reap so many benefits for our children into the future.”