Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has invited the general public to participate in Ireland's first Open Spaces Audit.

The council said its findings would help determine how access and maintain of open spaces can be improved.

Park and Landscape Services at the council currently manage over 2,200 acres of open space.

The use of this green network varies considerably, with over one million people per annum visiting the council's larger regional parks, such as Marlay Park, Rathfarnham.

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By completing a short questionnaire, the public can help influence the future development management of the 200 largest open spaces in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown.

The survey examines accessibility, usability, travel distance, community resource values and standards of maintenance.

Project Manager Aidan Ffrench said: "This is the first time such a survey has been carried out in Ireland, and by undertaking this innovative piece of work, the Council is aligning itself with international best practice in city administrations such as Berlin Senate, Portland (Oregon), Philadelphia (Pennsylvania)."

The findings will enable the council to plan and prioritise projects, thereby directing investment in the types of open arising from public input to the study, he added.

The Open Space Strategy for the county will be presented to the council later this year.

(PR/JM)