There is an ongoing joke at an inner-city school in Dublin that there's more greenery on the roof than on the ground.

A lack of green spaces in Dublin 8 has been an ongoing concern for young children in the area.

Some 8,500 children are without a sanctioned green area to play sports.

Two sites have been identified by local campaigners as possible locations for green areas.

The first is an area at St Teresa's Gardens and the second is at Marrowbone Lane.

Principal of St Catherine's National School Karen Jordan told The Pat Kenny Show there is nowhere for her 190 students to go.

"From the front it's all tarmac, at the back it's all tarmac," she said.

"The joke is sometimes we have more greenery on the roof than we do on the ground.

"We try our very best but there's no football pitch, there's nowhere that we can swing a hurl.

"The children can just about run in our space".

Ms Jordan said taking the children to the Crumlin Road to play sport is not an easy task.

"We have to cross the South Circular Road, we have to walk down the Canal to Dolphin's Barn - there are no traffic lights for pedestrians.

"Staff and parent volunteers take their own lives, and the lives of our children, in their hands to walk to the green space that's close by.

"We think we do great with the space that we have, the children are happy to be here.

"But there's no green space, you cannot play a proper game of any sport," she added.

Pat Kenny talks to Ronnie Byrne from St Catherine's Boxing Club. Image: Newstalk

Sporting Liberties represents several local sports clubs involved in GAA, rugby, soccer and boxing in the area.

They have been lobbying Dublin City Council to engage with them on meaningful action on a green space for children to play on for the past decade.

Sporting Liberties Chairperson JJ O'Mahony said there has been poor planning in the development of the region.

"There's estimated to be in the region of 4,000 people to be moving into this area within the next three to four years," he said.

"Within there's going to be probably 1,200 children... this pitch will be the most used pitch in Europe.

"That's why it's critical we look at Marrowbone Lane, and don't wait until we're in another crisis.

"Our goal is to have Marrowbone Lane delivered by July 31st 2026.

"Let the Council have a vision, let them care about children.

"Children don't rate in the decisions of the Council, that's our experience."

'Cradle to the grave'

Gail Oliver of the Oliver Bond Residents Group said a small pitch in the complex is not fit for purpose.

"You couldn't even have an under six five-a-side on it, it's that small.

"They actually have to get buses or trains or bikes to go to different areas to play their football.

"The Phoenix Park even is way too far for these young people, they think they're going down the country."

Oliver Bond flats in Dublin city, 30-6-21. Image: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie

Ms Oliver said there's too many services on their doorstep.

"We need to accommodate people from the cradle to the grave; at the moment there's none of that," she said.

"We don't need anymore hotels, we don't need anymore student accomodation and also we don't need anymore services.

"We have seven gates in Oliver Bond and if you walk out each gate there's a service.

"Out one gate is the Dublin Simon Community, then there's the Mendo, then you've Merchants Quay, then another gate is Focus Ireland.

"Then you've a wet house up the far end of Thomas Street.

"There is a need for the service, but there's not a need for them to be in one little small area of The Liberties," she added.

Ms Oliver hopes the Marrowbone Lane proposal will get through.

Main image: Principal of St Catherine's National School in Dublin 8 Karen Jordan. Image: Newstalk