Funding for playgrounds raised in the Dáil

The Fianna Fáil TD for North Tipperary, Ryan O’Meara has raised the challenges faced by two committees who are working to develop playgrounds locally.

Both the Cloughjordan and Silvermines playground committees have done exceptional work locally at fundraising for the development of a playground in their respective villages, but challenges remain in relation to accessing funding at national level to see the projects through to completion.

Raising this issue in the Dáil, Deputy O’Meara said: “Cloughjordan and the Silvermines in my constituency need playgrounds for local children. Both of these local villages have dedicated, skilled and ambitious committees established for a number of years.

“Both have secured land, the Thomas MacDonagh Memorial Garden in Cloughjordan, and the Parish Field in the Silvermines. Both have considerable sums of fundraising done locally, acquired planning permission, and detailed designs for their proposed playgrounds.

“Both have very excited children locally who cannot wait to have their own playgrounds. But access to funding is a major issue.

“The Social Inclusion stream of LEADER funding in North Tipperary has been maxed out and no other funding options come close to what is needed.

“Other funding streams have not been successful, and that is to no fault of the local committees.

“Considering the next Common Agricultural Policy is not due until 2028, we cannot wait that long for LEADER again.

“I am asking the Government to look at providing an additional payment from the Exchequer to organisations nationally that administer LEADER so that they can continue their good work in rural Ireland in the meantime.

“Taoiseach, we must find the funding to ensure these playgrounds can be built for my constituents.”