Towns and villages urged to avail of playground funding

Towns and villages are being urged to avail of funding for playgrounds under the Rural Development Programme.

"Up to 75% of the cost of playgrounds is available in grant aid with the remainder being raised locally and this provides the opportunity for communities to have a playground for the children in their town or village," Edenderry councillor Noel Bourke said this week.

The Rural Development Programme is administered by Offaly Local Development Company Ltd. An application from Edenderry Playground Committee was recently approved, and it's expected a playground will be in place there within the next two months.

"As a member of the Board of Offaly Local Development Company Ltd I am anxious to see as many communities as possible in the North Offaly area avail of the playground grant aid scheme and I will gladly assist them in any way I can and will support at Board level all eligible applications submitted," Cllr Bourke said this week. He added that ideally he would like to see a playground in every town and village in the North Offaly area he represents.