Council backs playgrounds on insurance

INSURANCE costs need not be an obstacle to providing playgrounds for children, as compensation claims from playground accidents are only a tiny fraction of total claims, an expert group has said.

The Kerry Play Advisory Committee, working closely with Kerry County Council, is encouraging community groups to develop play facilities. There are about 32,000 children up to 14 years of age in the county, but only seven public playgrounds. “There’s a huge demand for play facilities and our new policy is seen as a stepping stone to improving existing facilities and providing new facilities,’ explained Niamh O’Sullivan, facilitator to the committee.

She said that of 3,000 compensation claims against Kerry County Council in the past decade, only two related to playgrounds.