A survey has found Dublin teenagers feel excluded from public places and just want somewhere to hang out.
South Dublin County Council polled about 500 young adults -- 90 per cent said they wanted space to sit and chat, rather than more sports facilities.
The council now plans to allocate half a million euro to set up teen spaces in Lucan, Clondalkin, Rathfarnham and Tallaght.
Independent Councillor Liona O'Toole from Lucan says building playgrounds is positive, but councils need to follow through as kids grow up.
"Because I represent the Lucan area I would have been aware going back many years ago that at some stage we would have such an explosion of teenagers in the area," she said.
"I've seen it from my time in primary schools that the population of young kids was so big that eventually we'd have them turning into teenagers."
