Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

It can be invigorating to be part of a committee pursuing funds for playground provision. It brings people together in common purpose for their community. My councillor colleague, Ann Bambury, was central to such an initiative in Bandon for a very ambitious project there, but it should not be left to families to become social entrepreneurs and project managers, essentially spending vast amounts of time trying to stitch together funding grants to develop essential community facilities.

It is likely that some of the children of the families based in Midleton and Ballinacurra, which are part of our committee, will have aged out of playground use by the time we have succeeded in achieving the more ambitious parts of our aim. Just as it should not be left to parents to campaign for a new school, they should not have to take on the task of developing playgrounds and skate parks, and expanding existing facilities. Parents have enough to do. Childhood passes by quickly.

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