Dublin streets to be closed to allow children to play

A new proposal would see streets closed off for certain amounts of time to allow children to play freely in their own neighbourhoods. The play order is the brainchild of Dublin City Councillor Deirdre Heney, who will trial the idea in the Northside suburb of Donnycarney in the coming weeks. Under the plan, communities would be invited to apply for a play order to close off the road for an afternoon or morning. The Fianna Fáil councillor told the Irish Examiner:

"It's about promoting a better quality of life in communities whereby people will be able to know who lives where on their street. "I have found over the last number of years that more and more people don't know who is living in the house across the road from them. "I think only a positive spin-off can come from something like this."

Hopscotch, anyone? Do you think a play order would make your neighbourhood a safer place for children? Let us know on Twitter @herfamilydotie.