Securing playgrounds across Cork could cost up to €1m annually

Councillor Una McCarthy was told the cost of employing caretakers to open and close playgrounds was assessed, and the council simply doesn’t have the money to do this as there are 201 playgrounds around the county.

It would cost up to €1m per year to secure playgrounds across Co Cork in order to prevent ongoing nighttime vandalism, according to county council officials.

Vandal attacks after dark are costing the council a small fortune in repairs to playground equipment, and it’s not just happening in large urban areas but at playgrounds in rural villages.

Council officials have estimated that employing people in different localities to open the facilities in the morning and close at night would be nearly €1m annually, especially as such work would come with premium payments for working antisocial hours and bank holidays.

The cost came to light at a meeting of the most populous municipal district in the county — Carrigaline — where increasing vandalism in its town park is becoming a major problem.

Fine Gael councillor Una McCarthy said two fixed benches in the local park were pulled from their concrete bases and smashed around the park, “which is nothing short of disgraceful".

“When I visited the park myself, I saw first hand the extent of the damage, including the displaced benches, broken glass, and rubbish scattered throughout the area. This raises serious concerns about the safety and protection of the playground, which is due to undergo a €300,000 refurbishment this summer thanks to the tremendous work of the voluntary playground committee,” Ms McCarthy said.

Operating hours

She said the committee has requested that the playground be locked outside operating hours in order to help protect the new equipment from future acts of vandalism.

She was told the cost of employing caretakers to open and close playgrounds was assessed, and the council simply doesn’t have the money to do this as there are 201 playgrounds around the county.

“We need a multi-pronged approach to tackling vandalism, one that includes increased garda presence, the implementation of CCTV, and better education around respect for community facilities and public spaces," Ms McCarthy said.

"Communities invest huge time, effort, and funding into these amenities, and it is important that people understand the impact that vandalism has on local residents and on the volunteers."

Fianna Fáil councillor Audrey Buckley said she’d spoken to local gardaí and, because they’re overstretched, they aren’t able to mount as many foot patrols as they would like. 

“This is a huge issue, and it is a pity that a few [vandals] are ruining it for the many,” she added.

Ms McCarthy agreed with her that there needs to be more gardaí stationed in Carrigaline.