COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

QUESTION NO. 3

QUESTION: Councillor F. Timmons

'‘To ask for a report into playspaces for the Clondalkin Area and to specifically respond to agreed motions and question below in report and what progress has been made on both Balgaddy and St Marks'' 

Wednesday, November 18, 2015 MOTION NO.16 Councillor F. Timmons Cathaoirleach’s Business

“That this committee agrees that extra playground/playspace facilities are needed in Balgaddy for the many children with a disability in the area. That a report be brought on this to area committee.”

Wednesday, December 09, 2015 QUESTION NO. 6 Councillor F. Timmons

“To ask the Chief Executive if Balgaddy Family centre has been looked at for a playspace following my motion at last months area meeting? Also to ask how this issue will be progressed and what can be done to secure and improve current playground ?

Wednesday, April 20, 2016 MOTION NO. 14 Councillor F. Timmons

“That St Mark's Community Garden be looked at for provision of a playspace as part of the Garden to increase use and provide a much needed facility in the area.”

REPLY:

The replies to the motions and question listed above are outlined below:

Motion “That this committee agrees that extra playground/Play space facilities are needed in Balgaddy for the many children with a disability in the area. That a report be brought on this to area committee.”

Response: “The play facility in Balgaddy was provided as part of the housing project some years ago. It has, regrettably been the subject of ongoing vandalism including a recent significant event where part of the playground equipment was destroyed.

The idea of providing for disabled access in play provision is one that is currently part of the design process for these facilities and that the Council does provide – and the Council has subscribed to the Barcelona Declaration in regard to disability. Indeed the aim in the design of these facilities for a number of years now is to make as much of the equipment as possible, disabled accessible.

The play space in Balgaddy will be examined to see if there is a need to enhance the existing opportunities for disabled children there.”

Question: “To ask the Chief Executive if Balgaddy Family centre has been looked at for a play space following my motion at last month’s area meeting? Also to ask how this issue will be progressed and what can be done to secure and improve current playground?”

Response: It has not been possible to make contact with the Balgaddy Family Centre on the location of a play space in that facility. It is intended to do this as soon as possible in the New Year. The Operations Section of Public Realm maintains the existing playground and are reviewing security arrangements as a result of a recent and significant increase in anti-social behaviour and vandalism in the area. The review will also include discussion with the Estate Management Section.

Motion: “That St Marks Community Garden be looked at for provision of a Playspace as part of the Garden to increase use and provide a much needed facility in the area.”

Response: “The Council is currently committed to the development and completion of the agreed Five Year Play Space programme 2014 – 2018. This project has proven to be difficult to implement and it is intended to concentrate on the completion of the construction work in the identified locations. Nevertheless, where there are other identified opportunities for the provision of a play space outside of the agreed locations they will be examined to ascertain their suitability for such a project. It is intended to examine the suggested location at St Mark’s Community Garden.”

In respect of the on-going play space programme; it will conclude at the end of 2018. The programme has been very successful to date, particularly taking into account the difficulties encountered during the early phases. With hard work and significant active involvement from elected members and local communities, and direct engagement with children; the Council can be proud to be in a position where it is now perceived to be at the vanguard of creating new play opportunities close to where children live. It can also be proud to have embraced a new type of play space delivery – using the concepts of Natural Play and where children can create their own play opportunities.

The following play spaces have been completed within the Clondalkin area:

The completion programme for the play space programme was presented to all Area Committee meetings in June 2017 and the priority projects were designated up to end of 2018. The list proposed for the Clondalkin Area was as follows:

It was emphasised however that the completion of the specific play space programme 2014 to 2018 does not preclude the addition of other play spaces in addition to that programme as part of the normal three year capital programme. However both funding and resources would need to be identified and allocated for any additional projects. It was also emphasised that the completion of the programme, as passed by the council, will be a challenge, particularly considering the extent of the consultation undertaken to get agreement with the local communities on the provision of such facilities in their areas. However, if the proposed locations above do not prove to be possible to implement, consideration will be given to the location of a facility at other locations elsewhere and Balgaddy Family Centre could be considered in that regard. With regard to St. Marks Community Garden; this location could be considered within the context of the play space proposed for the Neilstown area; further consideration will be made when the project consultation is being progressed.