Anne Lucey looks at the failure of local councils to provideplaygrounds, and examines what's being done to address the problem
A new policy on play and recreation is being prepared by the National Children's Office. However, by the time the Government approves it and decides who should provide the funding, another generation of children may have outgrown their need for a playground.
There are startling variations between the local authorities which replied to the National Children's Office in their survey of public playgrounds during the past year.
The survey is the first step by the NCO towards balanced, consistent provision of playgrounds among local authorities.
Co Longford has 15 playgrounds, Co Roscommon 10 and Co Donegal eight. Mayo County Council only has four while Kilkenny, Laois and Offaly county councils have none.
Although Kildare's population has increased rapidly in recent years, it has just one playground, with two more being developed.
At the other end of the scale, Dublin Corporation has 58 playgrounds and Cork County Council has 19.
Most local authority spokespersons say they have closed more playgrounds than they have opened in recent years, often because of safety concerns.
Local authorities receive an increasing number of personal injury claims. Playgrounds, no matter how much effort is put into making them safe, will always attract claims, council officials say.
"The cost of insurance claims is the main obstacle to playgrounds," a spokesman for Kilkenny Corporation said.
Killarney town councillor Sheila Dickson, who has campaigned for playgrounds in Kerry for many years, feels insurance costs are sometimes used as an excuse by certain local authorities which, she says, fail to place children's needs high enough on their list of priorities.
"Providing playgrounds are constructed to European and Irish standards, and are properly maintained, the councils cannot then be liable. Besides, why is it some local authorities provide them and others don't?
"Gardens are getting smaller, roads are getting busier, we need playgrounds . . . Under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Ireland is a party to, children have a right to them," Cllr Dickson said.
However, environmental consultant Mr Richard Webb, who works closely with the voluntary umbrella organisation Súgradh - which was formed to promote play - says that although insurance costs were used as an excuse in the past, the huge rise in the cost of public liability insurance in recent weeks is a serious impediment to the development of playgrounds.
"In Súgradh we feel this is something the Government should address," Mr Webb said.
There are more golf courses than playgrounds in many parts of Ireland. In Kerry, there are around 15 golf courses - and there are only five playgrounds.
According to a report by Mr Webb in 1999, Public Policy on Children's Play in Ireland, the ratio of playgrounds to people was over 19,000 while there was one golf course for every 16,000. Little has changed since then.
PsychologistDr Marie Murray says we need to look at new forms of playgrounds. She says playgrounds are hugely important for children's physical and social development up to the age of eight.
"Children learn important skills - like turn-taking - they may not get opportunities for elsewhere."
Physically, the advantages for children are obvious - child obesity has become a significant problem. But playgrounds are important too for mothers and carers, according to Dr Murray.
"The playground was also where adults congregated and a great resource for adults with young children. It provided a way of tapping into the expertise of older mothers. We have lost that local transfer of wisdom and the playground made an ideal forum for that."
Playgrounds have also suffered from what has come to be termed "stranger danger".
"The new playgrounds need to be smaller, have an adult presence in them and possibly CCTV cameras, be hygienic and supervised," Dr Murray argues.
Almost 2,500 children wrote to or e-mailed the Minister of State with special responsibility for children, Ms Mary Hanafin, in the lead up to the National Children's Strategy. Most of them were seeking playgrounds.
However, adult time moves slower than children's time. The National Children's Office promises the new policy on play and recreation (due out around April) will include the financial implications.
Director Mr John Collins says he is generally optimistic there will be more playgrounds. The NCO will have the power to force local authorities to act if and when the new policy is approved.
But exactly when this will all be in place and the first playground is built as a result, Mr Collins cannot say.