Ms Tanya Ward:

I agree. A national and local planned approach could be taken. As Deputy Ó Murchú mentioned, Dublin City Council and some other councils are doing things. It is just not national or co-ordinated. Many different things could be done. Dr. Feely already mentioned the Vienna model. I was in Copenhagen recently where there are designated streets for play. All over the city on these designated streets, there are such things as sandboxes, tables and things for the kids to climb on. A street can be designated a play area and the cars kept out of it. There is a real opportunity, particularly as part of the just transition, to try to reduce reliance on cars, move towards a carbon-neutral economy and open up and create more safe spaces for children. They are not walking to school the way they used to because they do not feel safe. When asked about it that is what they say. There is a huge opportunity.

The other thing I loved about Copenhagen was there are lots of outdoor swimming pools. There are a couple of them in Ireland and they are hugely successful.