Louth County Council has condemned a recent act of vandalism at Moneymore playground in Drogheda, where fire damage has caused damage to the community facility.
Upgrade works at the playground in Moneymore were only completed last October.
It follows a similar act of vandalism at the end of last year at a playground in Dundalk, which had only recently reopened following a significant refurbishment.
The local authority has said that over the past year, it has been working to upgrade playgrounds across the county, with a focus on providing "imaginative, inclusive play for children of all ages and abilities."
The council has said the necessary repairs at the playground in Moneymore will involve the removal and disposal of burnt materials, followed by the refilling of the affected area with a resin-bound rubber mulch at an estimated cost of €1,200.
It adds that this is an unnecessary burden on public resources that could have been better spent on enhancing local amenities.
In a statement, the Chief Executive of Louth County Council, David Conway said: "It is extremely disappointing to see Moneymore playground the subject of vandalism. We condemn the damage caused, and the disruption to families and children who have been enjoying the facilities at the park, particularly during the current spell of fine weather."
"Louth County Council urges anyone with information about this incident to come forward and report it to An Garda Síochána. We also ask the community to remain vigilant and help protect shared public spaces from such senseless acts of vandalism," Mr Conway added.
Last December, much of the play equipment at the public playground in St Helena's Park in Dundalk was daubed in graffiti as were much of the macadam surface and the soft play surface areas.
The park had only reopened a week prior to the incident, following a refurbishment costing €480,000.
