Portlaoise students pave the way for greener and safer school journeys

Students from across Portlaoise gathered for the Portlaoise Travel Cluster Project Forums at the Laois County Council Chamber on Tuesday, November 4 and Thursday, November 6.

Portlaoise has become the first town in Ireland where all schools are working together on the Green-Schools Travel theme at the same time. Last week's forum brought students and teachers from across the town together to promote safer, healthier, and more sustainable school journeys. 

Students from Gaelscoil Phortlaoise, Maryborough National School, Scoil Bhríde National School, Portlaoise Educate Together, Dunamase College, and Scoil Chríost Rí came together for the Travel Forum.

Scoil Chriost Rí and Dunamase College at the 2025 Travel Forum

The initiative promotes walking, cycling, scooting, and public or shared transport. The aim is to foster healthier habits, reduce emissions, and support Laois’s broader climate and sustainability objectives.

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The gathering last week was the second year of the project's forums. The forum provided a platform for students to share their experiences and ideas and was facilitated by Green-Schools Travel Officers Michèle Castiaux and Chiara Hanrahan.

Chiara Hanrahan and Michèle Castiaux from the Green-Schools Travel Programme

Some of the highlights from the forum included discussions on the popular WOW (Walk on Wednesday) and COW (Cycle on Wednesday) initiatives, as well as the Park and Stride scheme which is designed to reduce congestion by encouraging families who must drive to park nearby and walk the final stretch to school.

The project also celebrated the introduction of the PL1 and PL2 bus lines this year which offers another sustainable travel option for students. 

At the forums, students collaborated on drafting sustainable transport policies for their schools which will be finalised by the end of the school year.

Commenting on the initiative, Karen Moore, Community Climate Action Officer at Laois County Council, said: "This project, launched last year, aims to reduce traffic congestion in Portlaoise, improve air quality, and ensure safe school journeys for all. Beyond the environmental benefits, we’re seeing students gain independence and enjoy the mental and physical advantages of active travel."

Chiara Hanrahan, Team Lead for the Green-Schools Travel Programme, added: "These forums offer a unique opportunity for Portlaoise schools to collaborate in the Council Chamber, sharing ideas and planning together. Hearing the students’ voices on this important issue has been inspiring. They’ve truly embraced the opportunity."

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme