Calls to expand school route scheme

An “oversubscribed” scheme that helps children get to school safely must be expanded or lives could be lost, Cork County Council has heard.

Social Democrats councillor Eamonn Horgan said he was unhappy to learn that the Government’s Safe Routes to School scheme was no longer accepting applications from schools in Cork.

Launched in 2021 by the Department of Transport, the scheme is designed to encourage as many students as possible in primary and post-primary schools to walk or cycle to and from school. It provides “front of school” treatments which enhance safe access to school grounds, as well as expanding the amount of bicycle and scooter parking available.

In his motion at Monday’s full meeting of Cork County Council, Cllr Horgan said unsafe conditions such as dark mornings and evenings, congested school gates, and a lack of footpaths and other infrastructure, continue to be a major concern for parents across the county.

At a divisional meeting last month, Cllr Horgan learned that no further applications to the scheme were being accepted from schools this year. He said that since being introduced, the Safe Routes to School scheme has allowed thousands of children to get to school more safely.

“The scheme is currently oversubscribed, and we have found out lately that it wouldn't be accepting any further applications,” said Cllr Horgan.

He added: “It is a very popular scheme, but it should not be a victim of its own success. Rather than standing still we should be celebrating such an important success. We should look to expand the scheme if anything.”

The East Cork representative also made the argument that schools are becoming increasingly dangerous due to more and more families opting for “SUV style cars”.

“The pausing of this scheme should be reconsidered; it should not be due to oversubscription. The reasoning should not be administrative. We should be looking out for the safety of our children,” said Cllr Horgan.

Social Democrats councillor Isobel Towse supported the motion, adding that the “front of school” aspect of the scheme should be expanded as in some cases it does not go far enough to ensure safety for children.

Cllr Towse said she recently visited Saint Patrick's boys National School in Skibbereen where a safe route set to be completed in September only covers the immediate area outside the school.

She said: “Obviously, children don't live at the front of schools; they live in estates, across town, on the other side of bypasses, and beyond. They attend sports grounds after school which won’t be connected in Skibbereen through this Safe Routes to School scheme.”

Fianna Fáil councillor Deirdre O’Brien was also strongly in support of the motion, stating the crazy scramble at the school gate to drop your child off “needs to stop”.

She said: “It needs to be safe for the child.

“We have schools on our national route where it's treacherous getting children into school.

“There's going to be accidents happening at school gates nonstop if this isn't looked at,” she concluded.

The Safe Routes to School scheme is supported by the Department of Education and is operated by An Taisce and the National Transport Authority.