COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN/PALMERSTOWN/NORTH CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, March 23, 2021

QUESTION NO. 11

QUESTION: Councillor V. Casserly

To ask the manager has there been any further development on locating a suitable area for a wheelchair swing in Waterstown Park

REPLY:

There is no difficulty with finding space for wheelchair accessible swings in Waterstown Park. SDCC have investigated the various wheelchair accessible swings that are available and have spoken to suppliers and installers of such equipment.  Unfortunately, it is not a simple matter of installing a wheelchair accessible swing and allowing free use in the playground.  All of the swings we have investigated have to be used under supervision and have to be segregated from other playground users with robust fencing.  They are invariably large metal structures which have the potential to cause injury.  The swings need to be locked until needed and then locked again once the child has finished using it.  For this reason, these swings are principally located in staffed facilities designed to meet the needs of wheelchair users and not in public spaces.  We are aware of a number of public playgrounds in Ireland where these swings have been used but as they are segregated in those playgrounds, they draw excessive often unwanted attention to those children using them and are therefore not very popular.

SDCC aims to have inclusive equipment rather than special provision.  We have provided a large basket swing in Waterstown Park which is suitable for use by wheelchair users and non wheelchair users alike.