Ireland’s Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley has announced €400,000 in funding for the development of new recreational spaces for teenagers across four local authority projects under the “Making Spaces for and with Teenagers Initiative.”
The initiative is part of a broader effort by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (Department of Children, Disability and Equality) to improve access to safe, inclusive, and engaging outdoor environments for young people. Each of the four selected projects will receive €100,000 in funding.
The projects are designed to create safe, attractive spaces where teenagers can meet friends, spend time outdoors, and engage in unstructured play and recreation. Features across the developments include sheltered all-weather areas, seating zones, improved lighting, and accessible design elements to ensure inclusivity for young people with additional needs.
Local authorities in Longford, Westmeath, Waterford, and Mayo will lead the implementation of the projects. These include dedicated teen zones, fitness and social hangout areas, music-enabled spaces, and recreational equipment such as table tennis tables, football tables, calisthenics equipment, and in some cases wheelchair-accessible installations.
Minister Foley highlighted that young people themselves were actively involved in designing and evaluating the spaces. She emphasized that teenagers often face a lack of dedicated public recreation areas compared to younger children and that these initiatives aim to address that gap by giving them places they can call their own.
The funding was secured through Dormant Accounts Funding and the National Development Plan, following a successful pilot programme in 2025. The Department noted that there are nearly 500,000 children aged 12 to 18 in Ireland, and that this age group remains under-served in terms of public play and recreation infrastructure.
The announcement also comes amid wider national efforts to expand youth facilities, including multi-use games areas and skate parks across local authorities. Officials say the new projects will help improve wellbeing, encourage outdoor activity, and strengthen community engagement among teenagers across Ireland.
