Minister officially opens inclusive outdoor play area at Mayo pre-school

Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary has today officially opened the new, inclusive outdoor play area at Cnoc na nÓg pre-school, Straide.

The playground, which was awarded €58,045 under the 2025 CLÁR fund, will ensure that all children, regardless of mobility, can participate in outdoor activities.

The CLÁR programme provides funding under a number of different measures for small-scale infrastructural projects in designated rural areas.

Since 2020 the CLÁR programme has provided over €68 million projects nationwide, of which €5.7 million was for 123 projects in County Mayo.

Speaking at the opening in Straide County Mayo, Minister Calleary said: “Reflecting the growth, modernisation and new demands of the communities of the west of Ireland, Straide National School now encompasses the Cnoc na nÓg Outdoor Pre-School for younger children.

"This innovative outdoor preschool provides a safe accessible space for younger children to learn and thrive together.

“Working together with communities around Ireland, the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht is committed to supporting the efforts of communities like the one here in Straide.

"Through schemes such as the CLÁR programme and the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, we are helping communities to make rural Ireland an attractive place to live, work, visit, raise families and indeed to retire in.

“It gives me a great deal of joy to know that my department is contributing to continual improvements for local communities through projects such as this one. I was delighted that funding of over €58,000 could be provided to this project under the CLÁR scheme.

“I want to commend the board of management, the teachers, the parents and the local community for working together to ensure the delivery of this project.”