Official opening of the Safe Routes to School Scheme at Kildare school
The €580k scheme has been opened at Scoil an Linbh Íosa, Prosperous, Kildare
Kildare County Council this week hosted the official opening of the Safe Routes to School Scheme at Scoil an Linbh Íosa, Prosperous.
Minister James Lawless, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science attended the event alongside the Cathaoirleach of the County of Kildare, Councillor Tim Durkan, and Annette Aspell, Deputy Chief Executive of Kildare County Council.
The €580,000 scheme provides safer and more accessible routes to the school for pupils, parents, staff and the wider community. It supports walking, cycling and wheeling while helping to reduce traffic pressure at the school gate.
The scheme includes several safety measures:
- reconstruction and widening of the footpath outside Scoil an Linbh Íosa;
- relocation of the raised School Warden crossing outside the school;
- six raised pedestrian crossings with tighter junctions on roads near the R403 and Hatters Cross Road;
- additional pedestrian crossings, including a crossing with local road narrowing on the R408;
- a new two-metre-wide footpath linking Scoil an Linbh Íosa with Goretti Terrace;
- pencil-shaped bollards and new road markings at the school;
- a regulated bus set-down zone; and
- two accessible parking spaces.
The completed works create a calmer and safer area around the school. They make it easier for children and families to choose active travel and improve access for people with disabilities.
The Safe Routes to School Programme is funded by the Department of Transport through the National Transport Authority’s Active and Sustainable Transport Investment Programme and is coordinated by An Taisce’s Safe Routes to School Team.
More than €2.15 million has been invested in Safe Routes to School infrastructure across County Kildare to date.
Twenty schools in the county have been selected for the programme so far, with projects progressing through feasibility, design, construction and implementation.
Minister Lawless said: “It is great to be here in Prosperous today to celebrate the launch of this Safe Routes to School project at Scoil an Linbh Íosa. Seeing more children walking, cycling and travelling safely to school is something we should all support. Not only does it help young people build healthy habits from an early age, it also makes our communities safer, greener and more connected.
“This project is a wonderful example of what can be achieved when local authorities, schools, families and communities work together with a shared goal. I want to congratulate everyone involved, including the NTA, Kildare County Council, students, parents, staff and local residents, for making this project a success.”
Paul Cassidy, Principal, Scoil an Linbh Íosa, said: “The scheme has had an extremely positive impact on our school community. Previously, we had removed the bicycle stands because they were not being used.
“Since these new facilities and safety measures were put in place, the bicycle stands have been reinstated and are full every day. It is wonderful to see so many pupils choosing to cycle to school and benefiting from a safer, more welcoming environment.”