3rd February
The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald TD has today launched the inaugural meeting of the National Local Authority Play and Recreation Network. The Network, established by her Department and facilitated by South Dublin County Council brings together for the first time key Local Authority managers and staff responsible for the local delivery of play and recreation services in communities across the country.
Launching the Network, Minister Fitzgerald stated: “As Minister, my message is clear, whether it is educational outcomes or health outcomes, play and recreation is integral to children’s lives. It is essential in children’s development at all ages. This Network is about collaboration, locally and nationally, to make play & recreation a national priority.
“Last week I launched the report ‘Influences on 9-Year-Old's Learning: Home, School and Community’ which highlighted how access to appropriate structured and unstructured play and recreation activities can have a real and lasting impact on the academic and educational achievements of children.
“Last November I launched the report ‘Overweight And Obesity Among 9-Year-Olds’ which found that 26% of nine year old children were found to have been either overweight or obese. Unsurprisingly that report also found that children who exercised infrequently (less than three days in the last fortnight) were about three times more likely to be overweight or obese than those who exercised on a regular basis (greater than nine days in the last fortnight).
“Our objective must be to ensure that all children and young people have the opportunity to access play and recreation facilities in their local community. While the provision of playgrounds and other community facilities is an important part of this, we should not forget that we have parks and green areas in every area of the country. We need to do more to promote these everyday amenities and I look forward to the Network examining innovative schemes to help achieve this.
The launch was also addressed by Senator Eamonn Coghlan who welcomed the establishment of the new Network and spoke of his ‘Points for Life’ initiative aimed at improving physical fitness among Ireland’s children. Senator Coghlan stated: '‘we need to improve fitness levels among children and young people generally and to ensure they lead more physically active lives with the resulting benefits for cardiovascular and mental health’
The Network which is being chaired by Alison Silke of South Dublin County Council will initially provide a forum for collaborative working by local authorities across the country focusing on the sharing of expertise and exploring opportunities for innovation in the delivery of play and recreation.
Among the issues discussed at today’s inaugural Network meeting were, developing child-friendly towns and cities, further development of the ‘National Play Day’ and ‘National Recreation Week’ initiatives and the development of innovative pilot projects to develop play and recreation areas in existing residential areas.
Future meetings of the network will be addressed by key stakeholders, experts and academics with a specific interest in the benefits of play and recreation.
Details of the activities of the network will eventually be made available on the websites of participating Local Authorities and Minister’s Fitzgerald’s own Department of Children and Youth Affairs.