COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM/TEMPLEOGUE-TERENURE AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

MOTION NO.9

MOTION: Councillor P. Foley

"That there is an urgent requirement in the Knocklyon Firhouse and Ballycullen areas for a playground to be built outside of the play space programme which is currently underway by SDCC.  The people of Knocklyon, Firhouse and Ballycullen are forced to go to the playgrounds in Marley or Tymon parks. Given the population that we are talking about, this area merits a playground of its own. This Area Committee calls on the Council to commence the planning process for such a playground with a view to having proposals ready for Budget 2017."

REPORT:

"The playspace programme 2014-2018 is a 5 year programme agreed by the Council; and designed to address the deficiencies of play opportunities in the immediate environment of children’s homes.

It is designed to provide for natural play in the places where people live. In developing the programme, proposals were presented to Area Committees in South Dublin and an implementation programme was developed. The concept of play spaces was set out with image boards and possible layouts, and were presented to each area committee to inform the discussion.

The resulting programme was presented and approved by the council in February 2014.

By the end of 2016 the Council had expended €680,000 (approx.) on the programme. A further €500,000 is allocated in 2017-2019 rolling capital budget; and staff resources are committed to carrying out the play space programme.

In the Knocklyon, Firhouse and Ballycullen area the following play space has been built to date:

2 playspaces within that area did not progress following the consultation stage:

The following play spaces are still proposed for the area and are programmed for 2017 and 2018:

In addition to the above; there is some scope within the playspace programme for flexibility regarding the location of playspaces. The programme is intended to respond to play needs in the localities in which the children live, so if additional locations for play spaces are identified for the Knocklyon, Firhouse and Ballycullen area the team will be available and eager to discuss these.

The provision of such play spaces not only increases the opportunities for children to play daily or several times daily; (which is healthy and encourages an active, outdoor-based environment close to children’s homes), but also decreases the need to travel distances, usually by car in the case of younger children, to a regionally based playground (visits to which tend to be a less regular occurrence)."