ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the early part of the twentieth century the popularity of outdoor recreation and physical fitness led in part to the passing of the Physical Training and Recreation Act in 1937 which gave local authorities the powers to provide and develop facilities for sport and recreation. The first is the variety of services inherited by local authorities following the reorganisation of local government in 1974. Although provision for sport and recreation in Northern Ireland has improved dramatically in the last twenty years, this has been despite the difficulty faced by local authorities in identifying and pursuing recreational planning objectives. However, it is the Sports Council, through its regional offices, that provides the more tangible support to local authorities, including technical advice and pump-priming finance, though the extent of support will depend on the degree to which the policy of the authority is consistent with the regional plan.
