My Department announced the opening of the Capital Grant Funding Scheme for the refurbishment of existing playgrounds and/or the incorporation of natural play spaces on the 20th February 2020. The scheme was open to all 31 Local Authorities to make 1 application with a maximum of 3 projects.
This year 27 Local Authorities applied for funding in respect of 49 individual projects. The following table details the Local Authorities who applied for the funding and a description of the projects proposed.
Local Authority
|
Project
|
Approved/Refused
|
Amount
|
Roscommon P1
|
Lecarrow Playground; Installation of additional Sensory & Accessible
Play Panels and replacement of the existing cradle swing seat with a Disabled
Seat
|
Approved
|
€2,357
|
Roscommon P2
|
Ballyforan Playground; replace equipment with new inclusive equipment
|
Approved
|
€3,598
|
Roscommon P3
|
Monksland Playground; Replacement of existing basket swing with a Disabled Swing and to replace the existing rotating disc with an Orbit Inclusive Roundabout.
|
Approved
|
€8,042
|
Cavan
|
Con Smith Park Playground (Multi Play Unit) - Refurbishment Works Phase 2
|
Approved
|
€12,744
|
Clare
|
Rainbow Park Playground refurbishment
|
Approved
|
€16,500
|
Cork City P1
|
The Lough Playground refurbishment
|
Approved
|
€7,500
|
Cork City P2
|
Shalom Park Playground Refurbishment; New double swing unit and safer surfacing to be installed
|
Approved
|
€3,750
|
Cork City P3
|
Meelick Park Playground refurbishment; New double swing unit and safer
surfacing installed.
|
Approved
|
€3,750
|
Cork County
|
Create a new Natural Play Playground
|
Refused
|
|
Donegal
|
Ard na Ri Playground refurbishment
|
Approved
|
€19,500
|
Dublin City
|
Phase 3 - Re-imagining Stardust Playground refurbishment
|
Approved
|
€22,500
|
Fingal
|
Robswall Playground; upgrade of existing playground in Malahide, increase accessibility and inclusivity
|
Approved
|
€16,500
|
Galway City P1
|
Doughiska Playground refurbishment; Refurbishment with a mix of natural play features and accessible equipment to the existing playground
|
Approved
|
€9,750
|
Galway City P2
|
An Sean Bhaile Playground; upgrading the two existing playgrounds to make the playgrounds more inclusive for all children regardless of ability.
|
Approved
|
€9,750
|
Galway County P1
|
Refurbishment of Tirboy Playground Tuam
|
Approved
|
€9,750
|
Galway County P2
|
Gort Road Playground Loughrea; refurbishment to include natural play elements
|
Approved
|
€5,500
|
Galway County P3
|
Refurbishment of St. Michaels Playground Ballinasloe
|
Approved
|
€3,250
|
Kerry P1
|
Ballybunion Playground refurbishment; Replace and augment existing equipment
|
Approved
|
€3,750
|
Kerry P2
|
Fenit Playground; Replace and augment existing equipment
|
Approved
|
€11,000
|
Kildare
|
Leixlip Playground; Regeneration and extension of existing playground.
|
Approved
|
€16,500
|
Kilkenny P1
|
Refurbishment of Graiguenamanagh Playground
|
Approved
|
€2724
|
Kilkenny P2
|
Refurbishment of Thomastown Playground
|
Approved
|
€2,233
|
Kilkenny P3
|
Refurbishment of Castlecomer Playground
|
Approved
|
€1,000
|
Laois
|
Rathdowney Playground; Refurbishment & Accessibility Upgrade
|
Approved
|
€22,500
|
Leitrim
|
Drumshanbo Acres Lake Playground; refurbishment of junior unit
|
Approved
|
€22,500
|
Limerick P1
|
Refurbishment of Castleconnell Playground
|
Approved
|
€4,650
|
Limerick P2
|
Refurbishment of Abbeyfeale Playground
|
Approved
|
€4,800
|
Limerick P3
|
Refurbishment of Newcastlewest Playground
|
Approved
|
€5,550
|
Longford
|
Refurbishment and extension of Granard Playground; Refurbishment of Playground and inclusion of natural play elements.
|
Approved
|
€16,250
|
Louth
|
St. Dominic’s Playground Improvement, Drogheda, Co Louth; to include refurbishment of the existing play equipment and installation of natural play equipment.
|
Approved
|
€16,500
|
Mayo
|
Playground at Leisure Centre Westport; Upgrade and replace sections of the safety surfacing and repair and/or replace existing equipment.
|
Approved
|
€16,500
|
Meath
|
Clogherboy Playground, Skatepark and MUGA; Repairs and refurbishment to be carried out.
|
Approved
|
€19,500
|
Monaghan
|
Refurbishment & extension of O’Neill Park Playground, Clones
|
Approved
|
€19,500
|
Offaly P1
|
Lloyd Town Park, Tullamore Playground; Repair of playground equipment & upgrade of playground seating.
|
Approved
|
€4,219
|
Offaly P2
|
Connolly / Kearney Playground, Tullamore;
repair of playground equipment
|
Approved
|
€1,406
|
Offaly P3
|
Birr Playground refurbishment; Addition of equipment such as wheelchair swing, provide for wheelchair access to carousel and provision of additional lighting
|
Approved
|
€7,500
|
Sligo P1
|
Refurbishment at Ballymote Playground
|
Approved
|
€4,988
|
Sligo P2
|
Refurbishment works at Riverstown Playground
|
Refused
|
|
Sligo P3
|
Refurbishment works at Dromore West Playground
|
Refused
|
|
South Dublin
|
Corkagh Park Playground; refurbishment and addition of a Natural Play Trail.
|
Approved
|
€24,000
|
Tipperary P1
|
Elm Park Playground, Clonmel, Co Tipperary; Upgrading the existing facility to ensure longevity and continuous use of this amenity within the Elm
Park Estate.
|
Approved
|
€8,250
|
Tipperary P2
|
Fairgreen Playground, Carrick-on-Suir; Refurbishment of Playground
|
Approved
|
€8,250
|
Waterford P1
|
Waterford City Manor St John Playground; Installation of inclusive swings, double slide and inclusive roundabout
|
Approved
|
€11,550
|
Waterford P2
|
Tramore Inclusion Park Playground; Installation of a new inclusive peddle go-round
|
Approved
|
€4,950
|
Westmeath P1
|
Clonmellon Playground upgrade works
|
Approved
|
€5,000
|
Westmeath P2
|
Killucan Playground upgrade works
|
Approved
|
€5,000
|
Westmeath P3
|
Ballinahown village playground upgrade
|
Approved
|
€7,500
|
Wicklow P1
|
Wicklow Town Murrough playground – all-inclusive play element to be
installed
|
Approved
|
€5,625
|
Wicklow P2
|
Wicklow Town Ballynerrin Playground refurbishment
|
Approved
|
€12,375
|
Of the 49 project applications , 46 were approved for funding with 3 projects failing to meet the minimum criteria. Local Authorities could apply for funding for the refurbishment of existing playgrounds and / or the incorporation of natural play spaces. The funding scheme was not open to applications for new playgrounds or new natural play spaces.
The following criteria applied to funding under the DCYA Capital Grant Funding Scheme for Play and Recreation 2020. In order to be eligible for funding each application required a score of at least 30% in every criteria:
- All spaces and facilities for which funding is granted must be available for use by all children and young people in the locality at times when they are free to use them i.e. outside of school hours (30 marks)
- All facilities and equipment funded must be accessible to children and young people with special needs (30)
- All facilities and equipment funded must be youth-friendly and safe (30 marks)
- All projects funded under the scheme must provide evidence, or a commitment to providing evidence, that children and young people living locally who will have access to the facility have been consulted about the project for which funding is sought. (20 marks)
- Evidence of ability to complete the project / expenditure within the timeframe (10 marks)
Local Authorities were also required to provide confirmation that No Smoking signage will be displayed in play spaces and facilities.