Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald today launched a new social enterprise that sources unwanted and surplus materials for use as art, craft and play resources in schools and preschools .

Based in Ballymount, Dublin, the ReCreate initiative is providing employment for nine people and aims to significantly reduce the cost of art materials for participants while at the same timeenabling companies to make savings on disposal costs.

According to Dara Connolly, executive director, ReCreate, "The primary aim is to encourage creativity and increase curiosity by supplying fantastic products previously very hard to source and facilitating their use as arts materials.

“Our target is to divert 20 tonnes of end of line materials from landfill in our first nine months of operation and to recruit 500 members to this cost effective and environmentally friendly service.

The project lists the Oakfield Trust, Early Childhood Ireland, South Dublin County Partnership and South Dublin County Council, Tallaght Community Support, with funding from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and South Dublin Enterprise Board among its partners.