Minister Foley announces €400,000 in funding for new recreational spaces for teenagers

From: Department of Children, Disability and Equality
Published on: 25 May 2026
Last updated on: 25 May 2026

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley has today announced €400,000 in funding for new recreational spaces for teenagers.

The four projects will provide safe, attractive places for young people to meet friends, spend time outdoors and engage in unstructured play and recreation.

The projects include sheltered areas for all-weather use with comfortable seating, appropriate lighting, and accessible design.

Minister Foley said:

“I am delighted to announce four new teenage specific recreational spaces under the ‘Making Spaces for and with Teenagers Initiative.’ This will provide our young people with opportunities to meet and spent time together in a place they can call their own. There are innovative features such as music speakers, work-out equipment, football tables, table tennis tables, an in-ground trampoline suitable for wheelchairs and even designs suitable for parkour movements.

Young people have played a key role in the development and evaluation of these recreational spaces. That is as it should be. It is wonderful to see this project grow and expand to more areas around Ireland.”

The Department of Children, Disability and Equality secured Dormant Accounts Funding and National Development Plan funding for the project following the successful 2025 pilot, Making Places for and with Teenagers.

All projects will receive €100,000 each and were designed in consultation with young people to be responsive to their needs.

Following an evaluation process, which included representation from the Comhairle na nÓg National Executive, the following projects are now announced as the successful applicants:

Making Spaces for and with Teenagers – A Dormant Accounts and NDP funded project Awards 2026
Local Authority	Project Title and description	Award
Longford County Council	ESPACE, an inclusive and accessible outdoor space at the front of the Green in Edgeworthstown, Longford, where young people feel safe, valued, and empowered. Key features will include sheltered areas for all-weather use, comfortable seating, appropriate lighting, and accessible design. Physical activity elements, such as low-impact exercise equipment, will also be included to support wellbeing. Accessibility and inclusion are central to the design. The layout allows for ease of movement for all users, including those with additional needs, and incorporates quieter areas for relaxation or for those with sensory sensitivities.	€100,000
Westmeath County Council	Teen Zone @ Athlone RSC Fitness Park – A Dedicated Outdoor Space for Teenagers will support both physical activity and mental wellbeing by providing a safe, attractive place for young people to meet friends, spend time outdoors and engage in unstructured play and recreation. Proposed amenities include areas that would particularly appeal to teenage girls including social “hang-out” seating points, calisthenics equipment and a music post, along with football tables, an in-ground trampoline suitable for wheelchairs and an accessible swing.	€100,000
Waterford City and County Council	Teen Space in Carrickphierish Recreation Park in Waterford City will deliver the first dedicated Teenage Hangout Space in County Waterford. The area will provide an open hang out space, scattered informal seating, sheltered areas with minimal facilities for physical activity, music speaker posts, soft bond rubber area and a design that will allow for parkour movements.	€100,000
Mayo County Council	Friary Grounds Teen Zone, Ballyhaunis, will provide an area to congregate and shelter, the provision to play music, an opportunity to play table tennis, durable surfacing and passive lighting.	€100,000

Local Authorities, working with their local Comhairle na nÓg (local youth councils), were invited to develop and submit a proposal for a project to address the recreational needs of teenagers in their local authority area, up to a maximum cost of €100,000, with matched funding of 25% required from the Local Authority. The total funding available was €400,000.

There are almost 500,000 children aged 12-18 in the country according to Census 2022.

Teenagers are acknowledged to be at a distinct social disadvantage when it comes to enjoying their right to play and recreation. The recently published report, Play and Recreation Provision for Children and Adolescents: A National Review for Ireland 2024 commissioned by DCDE, notes that the adolescent population (12-18 Years) clearly stands out as under-resourced or under-facilitated in relation to their play and recreation needs in comparison to children 0-11 years. There are around 787,000 children aged 0-11, according to Census 2022.

The provision of playgrounds for young children has improved in recent years with around 960 playgrounds available in 31 councils around the country. In contrast, 47% of local authorities did not provide any play facilities for children back in 1999.

There are now 171 council-owned multi-use games areas (MUGAs) and 59 skate parks which are designed for children aged 12-18.