Donacarney schools selected for active travel programme

Two schools in Donacarney have been selected to be part of an initiative that aims to curtail the number of cars travelling to and from schools.

Reált Na Mara Girls National School and Bunscoil Buachaillí Réalt na Mara were chosen out of 900 schools across the country to take part in the Safe Routes to School programme, a Government scheme to promote active travel to school.

The Laytown/Bettystown Municipal April meeting was told that Jacobs Engineering has been appointed as technical consultants and completed a preliminary design for the project. The firm has met with school principals in developing proposed design and construction works will commence over the summer months.

As part of the proposed design, improvements will be made to the junction at Donacarney Cross, the footpath will be segregated to provide cycling facilities. Bollards will be installed at the school to alert approaching motorists and the school entrances will be reversed at the request of the school due to the bus getting caught up with other school traffic. Also in the plans is a pedestrian crossing with flashing beacons.

The meeting was told that an existing layby would be removed and the bus stop would be be converted to an "in line bus stop," that would result in busses stopping at a marked designated point on the main road in a move to discourage cars from parking there.

"An Taisce Green schools are discouraging parking and driving they want to encourage active travel measures," said an official from the traffic department.

"By the time all of the children disembark a bus at one of the busiest school sites and having a bus sit in the middle of the road and removing the layby I think it is a mistake," said local Cllr Sharon Tolan.

However the objectives of the scheme were laid out in no uncertain terms by a council official who responded saying: "This is an unapolagetic statement that there is a hierarchy of road users and buses come before cars. This is an attempt to make it much more clearer to send a message to parents. Hopefully there will be less people in cars and more people on the bus, more people walking and cycling."

Cllr Stephen McKee raised concerns that motorists could look for alternative drop off points for the school potentially causing additional safety issues.

"Are you going to look at putting bollards on the Donacarney road as part of the footpath works because there would be a concern that people would start parking further down the road to walk up to the school, I've seen it happen in other schools and it would be likely to happen here as well," he said.

"It will be a game changer but will also bring active travel to people on the ground and will make such a difference," said Labour Cllr Elaine McGinty, she added: "Yes there will be challenges with cars and changing mindsets."

The meeting was told that public consultation would be carried out.