A novel way to increase safe play options for children in Galway schools, and at the same time help alleviate occasional flooding in some areas, has been highlighted by Independent Cllr. Thomas Welby, a candidate in the Galway West Bye-Election.
Cllr. Welby said that there was currently a drive underway in Ireland to improve playing facilities among children in local communities, something that is vital for their health and development. “Unfortunately, too many areas in school yards have hard surfaces, which limits the ability of children to freely play, and without risk of getting hurt.
“At the same time, there are some areas of the city and county that are prone to flooding and, as we all know by now, the incidence of flooding is only going to increase into the future. “That’s why we should consider digging up those hard surfaces in school yards in areas where there is a risk of flooding and installing underground attenuation tanks that can hold tens of thousands of litres of floodwater. Attenuation tanks have now been seen as a solution to areas affected by flash flooding. “Then, as the sudden weather incident comes to an end, the water held in these tanks is gradually released safely into the ground.
“So not only do we create these little flood relief areas in the heart of the city and other towns, we also offer children a better place to play, on the new grassed areas over the attenuation tanks, where play equipment can also be installed,” said Independent Cllr. Welby.
Cllr. Welby recently met with Dr Bergin of UCC, an experienced occupational therapist who is currently working on a two-year national research project, Making Space for Play in Irish Schoolyards. Dr Bergin said that the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child had called on Ireland to introduce clear, enforceable standards to protect children’s right to play.
“The urgency of this issue is underscored by international evidence of increasing restrictions on children’s play in schoolyards, despite robust evidence of its importance for health, learning and inclusion alongside rising levels of physical inactivity, loneliness and anxiety among children and young people across the EU,” Dr Bergin said.
“In Ireland, research mirrors global trends, highlighting growing limitations on outdoor play and significant restrictions in schoolyards, more so for disabled and other disadvantaged children. “Irish schoolyards are mostly hard-surfaced spaces with limited play value, however, schools lack policy, design and practice guidance alongside insufficient funding and limited training,” added Dr Bergin. Cllr. Welby said that Dr Bergin’s research showed an urgent need for clear, evidence-informed guidance to support schools in creating inclusive universally designed outdoor spaces aligned with State obligations and current education policy priorities and the rights of children.
