On Friday April 26th 2024, Mr Jack Chambers, Minister of State at the Department of Transport, along with Cllr Gerry McMonagle, Leas Chathaoirleach Donegal County Council, marked the completion of significant works carried out under the 'Safe Routes to School' programme at Scoil Cholmcille, Newtowncunnigham and St. Eunan’s National School, Raphoe.
Minister Chambers said that the Safe Routes to School Programme provides Schools and Local Authorities with an opportunity to work together to makes the journey to and from school safer and more enjoyable for children and parents alike.
“I am delighted to officially launch these two new state of the art Safe Routes To School projects which will encourage and allow more children, parents and teachers to walk and cycle to school safely. Enhanced active travel has enormous benefits for the wellbeing of the entire school community and helps to create a cleaner environment for all. I would like to congratulate everyone from the two schools for their work in ensuring the successful delivery of these projects as well as the NTA, Donegal County Council and An Taisce.”
The ‘Safe Routes to School’ programme has seen the completion of crucial infrastructure enhancements and a safe, inviting space at the front the schools at Scoil Cholmcille, Newtowncunnigham and St. Eunan’s National School, Raphoe.
These improvements include upgraded bus set-down and crossing facilities adjacent to the schools, aimed at fostering a safer environment for the school communities. The improvements at these locations aim to relieve congestion, reduce speed at the school gates during drop-off and pick-up times, and promote the use of alternate transportation methods such as walking and cycling as well as encouraging use of the park and stride from the adjacent public parking.
These projects represent an investment of €675,000 in works directly adjacent the schools and when coupled with additional funding of €1.4M in other Active Travel and streetscape improvements in these towns underlines the Government’s commitment to supporting sustainable travel choices.
Cllr. McMonagle commented that that improvements such as dedicated crossing points, improved footpaths and traffic calming measures will encourage more children and their parents to walk or cycle to school.
Administered by An Taisce in collaboration with the National Transport Authority (NTA) and Donegal County Council, the programme addresses issues identified at each of the schools during its implementation. These issues included a lack of pedestrian facilities, challenging school bus set-down areas, and students navigating traffic-heavy routes.
The Safe Routes to School Programme was launched in March 2021 by the Department of Transport with the support of the Department of Education and is administered by the National Transport Authority and An Taisce Green Schools. It aims to accelerate the delivery of walking, scooting and cycling infrastructure on key access routes to schools and to provide ‘front of school’ treatments to enhance access to school grounds. Works at two further schools, Scoil Mhuire, Ramelton and St Baithins NS in St. Johnston are also nearing completion with others in the design and planning stage.
Ms Nicola McCarthy, Principal of Scoil Cholmcille, Newtowncunningham said " The wider footpaths and installation of the vibrant pencil bollards are particularly popular with our pupils and their families. These have made such a positive difference in the number of families parking away from the school and walking as the route is now much safer. This in turn has greatly reduced the volume of traffic on the school street both morning and evening".
Ms Anita Keeve, Principal of St Eunan’s NS, Raphoe said “The Safe Routes to School Project demonstrates the collective responsibility to ensure that all the students at St Eunan's NS, Raphoe are safe, especially when it comes to navigating the the roads and the streets around us. It is our hope that the students of St Eunan's NS will see road safely as not just a slogan, but a way of life. We sincerely thank everyone involved in making our school travel safer for the school community and indeed the wider community of Raphoe.”
