Grangegorman playground -Update from the GGDA

This morning I received an update from the Grangegorman Development Agency informing me that works are to take place tomorrow and Friday (October 5th & 6th) for maintenance and repairs.

Further to this, the Agency have advised me that “there is also a health and safety issue between the playground and the pitches.  Some balls have gone over the safety netting on the pitches and into the playground during games.  To ensure the safety of children in the playground,  Grangegorman Estate Management (GEM) is seeking a permanent solution to this issue“. It is their intention to have that situation remedied by the end of this year.

The GDA has also stated that it has become “necessary to close the playground during scheduled sports activity on the grass pitches. While these closures have been happening for the past week some people are ignoring the closure and climbing over the playground fence during games. This is a real health and safety concern and therefore it is necessary, as a temporary measure, to put high fencing around the playground so that it can be secured when closed.   The fence will be open at the playground gates during opening hours.”

It is disappointing that the playground has to close for any length of time but I hope that this facility which has become a highly used community resource is maintained to the highest possible standard and that everyone that uses it, old and young are safe and secure. I will be working with the new Chief Executive of the GDA, Ger Casey to make sure that any closures are kept to a minimum so that our kids can continue to make use of this amazing facility.