Press release
Minister O’Gorman announces approved National Play Day 2021 funding.
From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Children, Equality, Disabilities, and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman T.D. is delighted to announce that €87k in National Play Day 2021 funding has been approved for disbursement to Local Authorities in advance of National Play Day 2021. This year, Local Authorities can elect to have their Play Day between July 3rd and 10th.
The aim of National Play Day is to promote play opportunities for children and young people all across the country, with this year’s theme being Playful Communities. The National Play Day grant scheme is one part of the wider Summer of Play campaign; a government-led initiative designed to remind everyone, young and old, of the fundamental importance of play.
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth received applications from 29 Local Authorities for this funding. All applicants qualified for the maximum amount of funding available - €3,000 per Local Authority (which represents a 50% increase on the funding available to each Local Authority under this scheme in 2020).
The applications approved for funding will enable Local Authorities to deliver play opportunities for a diverse range of children and young people in the community. Numerous approved applications entailed play packs being purchased and targeted for disbursement to a number of harder to reach children, including traveller children, children with additional needs, children residing in women's refuge centres, and children residing in direct provision centres.
Additionally a diverse range of outdoor activities are planned that are targeted at all children and young people in the respective Local Authority communities.
Welcoming the announcement, Minister O’ Gorman said:
“We all know that play is how children grow, learn and discover. After a tough year of restrictions caused by Covid, play will help children reconnect with extended family, friends and their communities and recover from the impact of the pandemic. Local Authorities play an important role in enabling children and families access important play facilities”.
The aim of National Play Day is to promote play opportunities for children all across the country. The DCEDIY has approved applications from 29 Local Authorities for the implementation of a programme of a range of activities to support National Play Day. Each Local Authority that applied for funding under this grant scheme therefore will receive funding in the amount of €3k (a 50% increase on the funding available to each LA in 2020).
The National Play Day grant provides funds to Local Authorities in order to allow them create and host play and recreational opportunities for children and young people in their communities (whilst adhering to the latest public health guidelines).
National Play Day funding can also be utilised by Local Authorities to purchase and distribute play packs to children and young people. These play packs are targeted at children in the wider community in addition to children who may be deprived of play opportunities; those in Direct Provision centres for example. Play Packs can include items such as skipping ropes, soft balls, crafts or drawing materials, toys for communication, toys for socialisation, toys for sensory, toys for manipulation, toys for movement: most of all TOYS FOR FUN!!
This year 29 local authorities successfully applied for funding under this scheme; details of these applications can be found here: National Play Day approved funding 2021