Wicklow councillor calls for playgrounds to be made inclusive

“The lack of disability access facilities at Giltspur Heights playground, such as a disability access swing and sensory walls, currently excludes children with disabilities the opportunity to avail of what is a wonderful resource for children in the area. This is wrong,” he said.

“Children with disabilities have the right to enjoy public play facilities, which play an important role in children’s development. It is important that Wicklow County Council ensures that children with disabilities are not left to feel isolated and excluded from play activities at Giltspur Heights, or any of the other five children’s playgrounds in Bray.

"Currently, none of these five playgrounds at Ballywaltrim, Giltspur Heights, People's Park, Sidmonton Park and Bray seafront are currently accessible for children with disabilities. I believe that the Council has a responsibility to ensure that funding is provided to have equipment installed to allow children with disabilities to be able to join in and enjoy play facilities at all of the playgrounds in the town,” he added.

Funding was approved from the Department of Children and Disability to make Bray’s seafront playground an inclusive and accessible space for children with disabilities, after Cllr Erika Doyle secured €10,000 from the annual budget last year towards the works.

This was subsequently topped up following a successful allocation for a ‘Play and Recreation Capital Grant’, bringing the full amount to €17k. Cllr Doyle had also called on Wicklow County Council to create a policy to ensure all playgrounds are made inclusive at design stage, and existing ones retrofitted where possible.