Indoor play areas and insurance
Deputy Ryan asked what the Government would do about the closure of indoor play areas because of insurance costs. The Taoiseach said Ministers were working on insurance generally and asked for specific examples to be forwarded.
What will the Government do about the mass closure of indoor play areas? What is happening appears to be due to insurance costs. Can the Government intervene to help commercial operators or will it instruct local authorities to step into the breach, either directly or through social enterprises? These are important facilities in a country like Ireland because the weather here is unpredictable. They are important not just for children, but for the parents who are otherwise isolated.
Comment on this
The Minister of State, Deputy Fleming, has been working extremely hard with other Ministers in respect of insurance costs more generally. I am not aware of mass closures of indoor sporting or play areas. However, there are issues. There are challenges as a result of high insurance costs. We are working hard to get those costs down. If the Deputy has specifics, we will take them from her and pass them on to the Minister of State who is dealing with this matter.