East Cork TD says more funding needed for playgrounds in expanding towns 

Cork East Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide raised the need for additional playgrounds in his constituency this week, asking Dara Calleary, Minister for Rural and Community Development, to commit to funding, in a direct and integrated way through councils.

He said in the Dáil on Thursday: “Midleton, for example, is a thriving town in East Cork, but our playground provision nowhere near meets the needs of a large and growing local population of young families. We must ensure a proportionate development of community amenities in line with residential development.”

Mr Calleary said that projects were supported through programmes like the CLÁR programme, the local enhancement programme, the LEADER programme, the community recognition fund and the town and village renewal scheme.

“Through the community recognition fund, €50,000 was allocated to Cork County Council in 2023 for upgrade works to the playground in Midleton,” he added.

Skatepark 

Mr Quaide said that Midleton requires a much larger playground than either of the two that it currently has, and areas like Ballinacurra have no playground, also adding that a skatepark and disability-accessible equipment were needed in Midleton.

He thanked the councils for obtaining €50,000 through a community recognition fund application, but said: “Unfortunately, we need multiples of that amount. It should not fall on committees of families to seek out such funding”.

Social entrepreneurs

Mr Quaide continued: “It can be invigorating to be part of a committee pursuing funds for playground provision.

“It brings people together in common purpose, but it should not be left to families to become social entrepreneurs and project managers, essentially spending vast amounts of time trying to stitch together funding grants to develop essential community facilities.

“It is likely that some of the children of the families based in Midleton and Ballinacurra, which are part of our committee, will have aged out of playground use by the time we have succeeded in achieving the more ambitious parts of our aim.

“Parents have enough to do. Childhood passes by quickly.”

Mr Calleary acknowledged this, saying 'parents are very busy, but it is not the job of the department either."

" We have put the funding initiatives in place and the local authorities can engage with us on them. They are best suited to that role in such developments given their skills and knowledge of what is needed in each area.”