Government play policy under fire

THE Government is to provide €1 million for councils to build playgrounds over the next five years as part of a play policy announced yesterday.

However, primary teachers claimed the Government was giving with one hand what it has taken away with another, because a €2.5 million fund for schools to buy sports equipment was cut last year.

Parents also warned against huge insurance costs preventing plans to develop more public playgrounds from going ahead.

Children’s Minister Brian Lenihan said the Ready, Steady, Play policy was based on the importance of play stressed by almost 2,500 children who took part in a consultative process. “They identified play and recreation as a major quality of life issue and commented on how they had nowhere to play and how, if they tried to play, adults often stopped them.”

Mr Lenihan said the Government was anxious to redress the imbalance in numbers of playgrounds in different parts of the country.

The emphasis will be on providing more playgrounds as soon as possible and councils will be encouraged to use development levies to provide play facilities on new housing estates.

As well as a €1 million grants scheme for local authorities to build or refurbish playgrounds, children’s hospitals and paediatric wards are to receive €150,000 for play equipment. The Pavee Point Traveller resource centre will receive €50,000 to develop culturally appropriate play material for Traveller children and €200,000 will go towards recreational computer equipment for children with serious disabilities.

The Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) said Mr Lenihan’s announcement was welcome, but accused the Government of having no coherent policy. A grants scheme which gave every primary school up to €1,270 a year for coaching and physical education equipment was dropped by the Department of Education last year.

“The minister’s announcement will seem to primary teachers like robbing Peter to pay Paul. While one department has money to spend on children at play, another cuts funding for children’s education in sport,” said INTO general secretary John Carr.

Mr Lenihan did not accept the INTO’s comments and said play went much further than just school activities. While Health and Environment had made financial commitments, he would like the physical education grant restored.

The National Parents Council (Primary) also welcomed the policy but said the saga of insurance costs forcing playgrounds to close should be sorted out.