Around the country, there are groups of parents volunteering their time and energy to upgrade their local playgrounds.

In Cork, a playground committee in Carrigaline recently posted a reel on Instagram, updating a giant thermometer to mark a new milestone reached in their fundraising efforts. They proudly revealed they had now raised €100,000 for a new playground.

After two years of hard work, fundraising events, sponsorship pleas, and grant applications, this was a huge achievement.

You’d be forgiven for assuming this brings them within touching distance of the new playground their town so desperately needs. In reality, they are less than a third of the way there.

A fully inclusive, modern new playground in 2025 costs upwards of €350,000. Similar projects in Cork five years ago were less than half that amount.

Play is an essential part of child development, and is crucial for physical health, mental wellbeing, and social connection. Given its importance, play facilities for children should be directly and proportionately funded in towns and villages around the country. Instead, it’s falling on committees of busy parents to give up their limited time to secure funding for playgrounds and skate parks.

Parents are spending their evenings and lunch hours on Zoom calls, writing grant applications, carrying out site visits, and........

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