COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, December 13, 2021

QUESTION NO. 6

QUESTION: Councillor Yvonne Collins

To ask the Chief Executive for an update as to when Communications Boards will be installed in our public parks and play spaces given the success of the pilot project in Corkagh Park and the funding allocated in the budget.

REPLY:

The Council is supportive of measures that would increase the accessibility and inclusivity of our playgrounds and a communication board is in place on a pliot basis in Corkagh Park. This followed consultation with SDCC's Disability Officer and her fellow Access Officers around the country and also the Special Projects Team responsible for the playground at Min Ryan Park in Wexford. In addition, we contacted a speech and language therapist who submitted information on the communication boards, and advised us on how the proposal relates particularly to playgrounds.

We understand that many children who have this need have their own communication cards but may not always need to have them with them.  In some cases, children who have a mild or moderate disability can become unable to concentrate in a playground as it can be an overstimulating environment. In such cases the boards would help the children and parents to maintain communication and allow the child to continue using the playground. 

The Council installed a communication board in the upgrade of the new Corkagh Park Playground, on a pilot basis. We are currently preparing a video that showcases the communication board and will release this video later this month that will give further information on it and request feedback from park users as to their experience of using the boards over the past number of months. Once we have feedback on the design of the board, its usability and suggestions for any particuarly required locations, we will draw up a plan for their proposed further roll out.