Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 22 June 2021

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs

Children's Experiences during COVID-19 Restrictions and Lockdowns: Engagement

Mr. Conor James:

I think outdoor space is used quite well. The Blackrock Park is quite near me and that is where I go sometimes and there is a good bike trail. That is all really good and it is well used. There are two different playgrounds. There is one for all age ranges and then there is an older one. We can still use the older one but it is not as good. Maybe that space could be used for something else. I know there are lots of parks that have two or three playgrounds in them with a lot of different things, but maybe we could use that space for something that is over near the playground and then make an overall bigger playground so everybody could play there. Sometimes adults think that a 12-year-old would never do something that is meant for a seven-year-old, but sometimes children do. Sometimes there are fun little slides, you want to play with your sister or sometimes you want to play by yourself and want to try something out or go on the small thing. There is either the big kids' yard or one for the small kids. Maybe if all of it was included, kids might have a bit more fun and it might be a slight bit better.