COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, March 14, 2011
QUESTION NO. 7
QUESTION: Councillor E. Tuffy
To ask the Manager for an updated Report on the Review of the Council's 5 Year Playground Programme, and if he will confirm that as part of the Review the possibility of providing small local playgrounds in small local parks and estate open spaces is being considered?
REPLY:
The 5 Year Playground Construction Programme was adopted by the Council in December 2006 and arises from the Council’s Play Policy – Developing Play in South Dublin County 2006 – 2009.
The detail of the playground construction programme, as approved by the Council, is set out below:
| Location | Electoral Area |
| Griffeen Valley Park | Lucan Clondalkin |
| Rathfarnham Castle Park | Terenure Rathfarnham |
| Rathcoole Park | Tallaght |
| Sean Walsh Park | Tallaght |
| Tymon Park | Tallaght |
| Corkagh Park | Lucan Clondalkin |
Two of the playgrounds listed on the programme have been completed and are now in public use.
The playground at Sean Walsh Park, Tallaght was opened to the public in March 2009 and the one at Rathfarnham Castle Park was opened in 2008.
Arrangements are being made to commence the Part 8 public consultation process for the proposed replacement playground in Tymon Park.
A Part 8 consultation process has been completed for the proposed playground in the Grange Park section of Griffeen Valley Park.
Design work on playgrounds at Corkagh Park and Rathcoole Park is subject to identification of suitable sites.
All of these projects are also subject to the availability of finance in the Rolling Capital Programme.
In addition to the above programme, playgrounds have also been provided in recent years, with grant assistance from the RAPID Programme, at Quarryvale Community Centre, Collinstown Park, Killinarden Community Centre, Fettercairn Community Centre, Jobstown Community Centre, Brookfield Community Centre, and Kiltalown Park. Unfortunately, the playground at Collinstown Park, which was not directly overlooked or actively supervised, was subject to ongoing vandalism. As a result of the levels of damage sustained, the council had no option but to remove it on grounds of public safety. A playground was also provided in association with the new swimming pool in Clondalkin in 2008.
There are now a total of 14 modern playgrounds provided by South Dublin County Council at various locations around the county including public parks, community centres and leisure facilities. A further 8 small playgrounds have also been provided by developers in residential developments at locations such as Adamstown, Balgaddy, Ballycullen, Scholarstown and developments at Tallaght Town Centre area with varying degrees of success.
As part of the review of the Play Policy, the review group will consider the possibility and feasibility of providing small local playgrounds in local parks and housing estate open spaces, having regard to best practice and experience of playground provision in the county.