Kildare principal has 'very serious concerns' over loss of school traffic warden

A Leixlip, Co Kildare school principal has told the council he has “very serious concerns” following the redeployment of Scoil Eoin Phóil's traffic warden to Confey, Leixlip.

Principal Seán O'Boyle made a presentation to the Celbridge Leixlip Municipal District meeting on Friday, March 20 in relation to the loss of the Green Lane schools' traffic warden, which followed a retirement in Confey.

Mr O'Boyle said he was speaking on behalf of his own school, Scoil Eoin Phóil, and on behalf of the principals of Scoil Mhuire and Scoil Bhride, also on Green Lane, Leixlip.

Mr O'Boyle explained that since the redeployment of the school traffic warden, the risk to the student population and the wider school community had become starkly apparent.

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He said that since the traffic warden was redeployed to Confey, the three schools have become increasingly concerned for the welfare of students, and a number of road traffic incidents had already occurred.

On the morning of February 24, Mr O'Boyle stated, there was a “near fatal incident” in the school area, with another incident reported outside Scoil Eoin Phóil the following morning, the location where the traffic warden was redeployed from.

Mr O'Boyle pointed out that he and the two other principals have been meeting every week and have been reinforcing road safety with students and parents.

The schools have also contacted the local community gardai, and have been in touch with Kildare County Council about reversing the decision to relocate the traffic warden, or to having another school warden appointed.

Unfortunately, nothing has come of these representations, he said.

Across the three schools in Green Lane, Mr O'Boyle explained, there are approximately 900 students, with the area itself being heavily populated with traffic.

“It is only a matter of time”, he stated, “before another incident happens, or worse.”

The removal of the school warden had caused a deterioration of road safety with motorists, and also with parents, Mr O'Boyle said.

There are also a growing number of students with additional needs attending the Green Lane schools, he said, whom principals are also concerned for their safety attending school.

Cathaoirleach Cllr Rupert Heather (LAB) said he wished to acknowledge the presence of Sinéad Martin, KCC's Road Safety Officer, and pointed out that both members and the local authority took the matter “very seriously”.

Thanking Mr O'Boyle for attending the council meeting, Cllr Nuala Killeen (SD) said it was obvious the situation was “quite serious”, and said she would be happy to meet with the principal on-site to witness the safety concerns raised.

Cllr Killeen added that efforts should be made towards the recruitment of an additional traffic safety warden for the Green Lane schools.

Cllr Bernard Caldwell (FF) said that he visited the location recently with James Lawless TD, and said the problem was an issue “throughout Leixlip schools.”

However, he noted, parents were driving to the schools on Green Lane “when they should walk”, and there was a need to get parents “out of their cars.”

“Some of the parents need to take responsibility, rather than blaming the council for not providing wardens”, he said.

He was not against traffic wardens, he pointed out, but parents needed to take responsibility for unnecessary car use.

Cathaoirleach Cllr Rupert Heather (LAB) thanked Mr O'Boyle for coming into the council and presenting on the issue, and offered assurances that the council would do its utmost to find a solution to the problem.