Council commit to provide inclusive playground equipment across county Longford

The motion was originally tabled by Councillor Uruemu Adejinmi. In it Cllr Adejinmi called on Longford County Council to seek funding from the Department of Disability to provide inclusive playground equipment in all recreational areas so that children of all ages and abilities can enjoy playing together.

At the December meeting of the authority the Fianna Fáil representative's motion was moved by party colleague Cllr Pat O’Toole and seconded by Cllr Seamus Butler.

In reply the council outlined how they avail of a number of different funding opportunities to increase the level of participation of people with disabilities taking part in sport and physical activity in their communities.

The funding strands include the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY), the Healthy Ireland Programme, and Sports Inclusion Disability Plan.

Longford County Council explained that they can apply to DCEDIY, under the annual Capital Grant Scheme for Play and Recreation, for one project, with funding being capped at €18,000 for each Local Authority.

The Department maximum grant of €18,000 is targeted mainly at upgrades and the Council can only apply for one playground. The awarding of this funding is contingent on the Local Authority co-funding each successful project.

The Council said they seek to also include accessible equipment as far as possible when replacing equipment or acquiring new equipment for playgrounds.

Under the Healthy Ireland Programme the local authority have identified the provision of a Communication Board as an inclusion option. A Communication Board is a type of augmentative and alternative communication providing ready access to core and fringe words.

The boards are primarily a communications support, with particular benefit to children and adults who are either pre-verbal or non-verbal and/or have communication difficulties.

Longford County Council has already installed playground communication boards in several playgrounds including Newtownforbes and Albert Reynolds Peace Park. The Council has ordered additional boards for the remaining playgrounds.

Under the Sports Inclusion Disability Plan (SIDP) Capital Supports from the Dormant Account Funding are available through Sport Ireland.

This initiative provides capital support to the implementation of the SIDP. The fund aims to reduce the barriers to sports participation for people with a disability through the provision of equipment and minor infrastructure.

The fund can be used to purchase a range of disability sports equipment and enabling infrastructure including hoists, handrails, fittings, mats, and wheelchairs.

The fund is a competitive bid process in which applications by Local Sports Partnerships are required to identify equipment or infrastructure works which will increase participation in sport or physical activity for people with a disability in their county and must demonstrate a match fund to a level of minimum of 25%, of either monetary and / or benefit in kind to ensure partnership working.

Local Sports Partnerships are also required to demonstrate links to their existing activity, programmes and initiatives, in the development of opportunities for people with a disability to engage in sport and physical activity.

The local authority gave an undertaking to follow through on the funding streams. Cllr O'Toole said he was happy with the response.