The children’s playground at Moneymore is in a pretty dilapidated state but it was announced today that it is to be refurbished as part of a €6m nationwide programme to improve outdoor play facilities. It is one of three such facilities in County Louth on the list, the other two are in Blackrock and Omeath.
Drogheda Life visited the playground this afternoon and it is certainly in a bad state of repair showing the signs of neglect and the effects of vandalism and in need of a good helping of TLC.
Two young lads who were the sole occupants of the playground when we called said that often “big boys and teenagers” write rude things on the equipment. “Things you wouldn’t want your sister to see” one of them said.
Asked what they would like to see installed at the playground they said: “More swings, a sandpit, a roundabout, a toy digger and a swimming pool.”
The programme is part of the Government’s ‘Summer of Play’ initiative which was announced today by the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, T.D.
The initiative is designed to support and encourage children and their families to get outside and play as restrictions ease in the coming months and will see grants, supports and information resources rolled out over the summer months.
The funding is being rolled out through two grants:
The Playing Outside Grant for Early Learning and Care and School-Aged Childcare services will provide €5.5 million in funding for services to enhance their outdoor spaces.
€450,000 for the Local Authorities Play and Recreation grant will fund the refurbishment and development of playgrounds and play areas across the country. The projects funded cover a wide range of initiatives that will deliver diverse benefits to children and young people and have a positive impact on communities. They include projects such as sensory gardens, learn to cycle tracks, and natural play trails.
The Minister also announced a resource for families to support their children’s play – Let’s Play Ireland. The Let’s Play Ireland website, which was originally launched in 2020 and gives families access to a range of play resources for children, has now been updated and relaunched for summer 2021. The resource includes content on activities for parents to enjoy with their children, tips on supporting children with their feelings, and ideas and activities for learning through play.
Welcoming the initiative, the Chair of the Louth East Meath Greens, Anthony Murphy, said: “This is very welcome, playgrounds are vitally important for the development of our children. Our Playgrounds are the beating heart of our communities and need to be adequately funded, it’s great to see some of this funding make its way to Moneymore.”
Launching the Summer of Play, the Minister said:
“We all know that play is how children grow, learn and discover. And after a tough year, it will also be how children reconnect with their family, friends and their communities and recover from the impact of the pandemic.
“In response to the very difficult times children have experienced because of the pandemic, we want to help make sure that children get outside, play, and have fun. To that end, I’ll be announcing funding, supports and resources throughout the summer for them to do just that.
“The Let’s Play Ireland website has been updated and is packed with new resources for children and families to enjoy. The two grants I’m announcing today will further support this by providing safe, inclusive spaces for children to play in their communities.
“A series of other exciting funded initiatives will roll out of over the coming weeks – all of them promoting a summer of play.”
