Just seven public playgrounds are available to the 32,000 children in one county, an audit compiled to form a policy on developing play areas in Kerry has found.
Although practically every small village in Kerry has a GAA field, there are fewer playgrounds now for children under the age of 14 in Co Kerry than there were 20 years ago, despite strong demand by residents and the thousands of tourist children who visit the county each year.
There is no specific legislation with regard to children's play and no provision of funds for play facilities from Government departments, although the National Children's Office is currently finalising a national play policy. This will form a framework for play opportunities for children, the draft Countywide Policy Recommendation on Public Playgrounds and Play Areas in Kerry has noted.
"In Ireland the focus of the State's activities in the area of children is primarily concerned with child care...Currently the provision of play is left to the discretion of individual local authorities," it stated.
Fears over insurance claims and a lack of funding have led to the lack of playgrounds in the county, according to Ms Niamh O'Sullivan, community and enterprise officer with Kerry County Council.
However, the insurance obstacle is more about perception than reality, she said. Only two of the 3,000 public liability cases brought against the county council over the last 10 years in rural areas had to do with playground accidents.
The draft policy sets out to encourage community development of playgrounds and if adopted, the council would take responsibility for insurance once the playground met the authority's strict safety standards.
Equipped playgrounds for toddlers cost as much as €40,000 and those for a variety of age groups cost up to €120,000.
Kerry County Council's draft policy sets out an eight-step process to help community groups develop play facilities.
The Kerry Play Advisory Committee is shortly to present a proposal for the establishment of a national fund for play to Mr Ó Cuív, the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, and Mr Brian Lenihan, the Minister of State for Health and Children.