COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, October 10, 2011

MOTION NO. 14

MOTION: Councillor E. Higgins

That this Council prioritises the drafting of an updated Play Policy and Five Year Playground Programme and for this revised policy to reflect the need to install playgrounds in Lucan, Palmerstown and Rathcoole.

REPORT:

South Dublin County Council adopted its first Play Policy on July 10th 2006. The Play Policy was formulated by the Sports, Recreation, Community and Parks Strategic Policy Committee. It recognises that it is a child's right to live happily and the primary way that this can be done is through play. 

The policy aims to:

• Promote the importance of Play for children
• Recognise and actively support all children having the right to play (as stated in the 1998 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child)
• Enable all children in local communities across South Dublin access to good quality play opportunities.
• Provide a framework by which play provision for children in the County can be developed and expanded.

Specifically it is a Countywide Policy on the Development & Management of Playgrounds and Play Areas (2006) and is a Council strategic plan which outlines its commitments towards the support and development of facilities. It outlines the future development of and management of playgrounds and play areas in South Dublin County.

The Five Year Playground Construction Programme was prepared under Action 2 of the Play Policy and was adopted by the Council in December 2006. New playgounds have been provided under the programme at Rathfarnham Castle Park (2008) and Sean Walsh Park (2009). Part 8 approval was obtained for a new playground at Tymon Park this summer and work on plans and specifications is underway. Planning work in relation to playgrounds at Rathcoole Park, Griffeen Valley Park and Corkagh Park are at site selection stage.

It is intended that the 5 Year Playground Construction Programme will be reviewed as part of the review of the Play Policy. 

The Council adopted its Sports Strategy on 17^th November 2010, and many of the objectives of the Play Policy are now covered in the Sports Strategy.

The Play Policy is currently under review and will assess Play, Sports and Recreation needs on a countywide basis. All future projects are of course, subject to the identification and availability of finance to carry out the works proposed.

We are also aware that there is a proposal by Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to set up a network of Local Authority Play & Recreation Officers and South Dublin County Council will play a major role in the network. The network is envisaged to ensure that the focus on increasing public awareness of play and recreation and that this area is maintained at this difficult time for local authority and central Government budgetary allocations.