€15,000 allocated for children’s play area in Monaghan – Conlan

Fine Gael Cavan/Monaghan TD, Sean Conlan has welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, James Reilly TD, that €15,000 has been allocated to play and recreation projects in Monaghan.

“ I know there were a lot of applications for the Recreation Capital Grants Scheme so I am delighted that €15,000 will go towards children’s facilities here in Monaghan.

“The money allocated will be used for the refurbishment of Killygoan play park, Monaghan town’s main playground. This facility is 20 years old, it was condemned as unsafe in 2013 and closed.   With this funding new equipment, suitable for children with limited mobility; a nest swing and a tower/slide unit with an accessible staircase, will be installed.   This development will also include ‘Smart’ Playground, multiple-play activities suitable for all ages and abilities . This will prove extremely beneficial to young people in the area.

“The summertime is upon us and, weather permitting, families are spending a lot of time at playgrounds, in parks or at the beach. Safe and fun play areas are a major draw to any town and they are a wonderful facility for children and parents alike.

“It is also extremely important that these areas are healthy environments for our children and with this in mind, Minister Reilly has stated that in future, applications for funding will face an additional criterion related to Tobacco Free Ireland. In order to prevent children from ever starting to smoke it is essential that we denormalise smoking and therefore funding for projects such as children’s playgrounds will be contingent on the relevant local authority implementing a policy of ensuring the projects are no smoking areas. 

“Nationally €250,000 has been allocated to a variety of worthy projects; this money is being used to bring old play areas back into use, to rejuvenate housing estates and to introduce new and innovative facilities.

“This Government is focused on achieving growth by creating jobs in all regions of the country, but growth and recovery can also be seen as investment made in towns and villages. The funding announced today is a small, but significant step in improving facilities for the locals of Monaghan Town as we move towards recovery.”