Safe, sustainable and healthy – Wicklow community hails new Safe Routes to School scheme
Schools participating in the scheme have reported a 17pc reduction in car journeys, as more students opt for walking, cycling, scooting, or using public transport.
The improvements at St Kevin's highlight the benefits of the scheme, with the 'school zone' upgrades to the front of the school creating a safer environment for students when commuting.
Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, Cllr Melanie Corrigan, welcomed the official opening of the Safe Routes to School project at St Kevin's NS, on Tuesday, June 17, and said the completed works have 'significantly enhanced the area ensuring safety for children and peace of mind for parents'.
'I would like to pay tribute to the Wicklow County Council's Active Travel Team together with the staff from Greystones Municipal District for their hard work and dedication from design to construction on this project. It is a great achievement of all parties involved to witness this delivery of works, which no doubt will be enjoyed by many and for many years to come,' she said.
Greystones councillor Stephen Stokes, a past pupil of St Kevin's, said the launch marked a significant milestone in efforts to promote active travel and ensure safer conditions for students and families travelling to and from the school each day.
He pointed to significant improvements at the school, including upgraded pedestrian crossings, pencil bollards, clearer road surfaces and a re-opening of the Church Lane gate – all designed to prioritise the safety of young road users.
'This is a proud day for the community in Greystones,' he said. 'I commend the students, staff, and families of St Kevin's who have engaged so positively with this initiative. The Safe Routes to School programme is about more than infrastructure, it's about building a culture of safety, sustainability, and healthy habits for the future.'
'I look forward to seeing even more students choosing active travel every day. These improvements will benefit the entire community and reflect our commitment to putting children's safety first.'
Looking more broadly across the county, Tánaiste and Wicklow TD Simon Harris said he welcomed the progress under the programme, which he said is helping to make daily school journeys safer, healthier, and more sustainable for students across County Wicklow.
'Eight schools in Wicklow are now participating in the Safe Routes to School initiative, which is a clear sign of the county's commitment to safer and greener travel,' said the Tánaiste.
'The scheme is not only benefiting students, but it's also making a positive impact on the environment and easing local traffic congestion.
'Encouraging students to walk, cycle, scoot, or take public transport not only promotes road safety but also reduces traffic around our schools. I'm proud that Wicklow is playing an active role in this national effort,' he added.
The programme is funded by the Department of Transport through the National Transport Authority (NTA). It is coordinated by the Education and Community Action Team of An Taisce and is delivered in partnership with local authorities.
The eight Wicklow schools that have received funding are:
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Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Irish Independent
Safety of children to the fore as Wexford council holds public meeting for safe routes to school scheme in Kiltealy
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'And this is not just me saying this, five or six people I spoke to felt the same. It's been going on since the very beginning, to the extent that some people chose not to come here today because they knew what it would be like when they got here. Anne and Michelle Jordan at the Safe Routes to School public consultation meeting at Kiltealy Community Centre. "There were signs put up around the village, we weren't going to do similar, it would have turned it into a circus. That's why a lot of those in favour of the scheme weren't heard as much. There's ways and means of doing things, and ultimately the submissions were read and listened to by the council.' All six of the Enniscorthy district's councillors were in attendance throughout the course of the day and Fine Gael's Pat Kehoe said that presenting the information in person had allowed locals to see first-hand how the alterations will affect the village. 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They feel the council is now listening,' she said. 'There are still some people who don't want any changes to Kiltealy and I can understand where they're coming from too. But it's important that people know the council will listen and that this is the way we should be doing things. 'Since I first became a councillor in 2004 I've had people asking me if the speed in Kiltealy could be addressed and if we could make it safer for children in the school. And this will make it safer for both the children in the school and the people in the village.' Asked whether she would be voting in favour of the scheme in September, the Fianna Fáil councillor had a couple of suggestions of her own, 'I have asked that they put a disabled parking spot at the cemetery and perhaps an age-friendly space,' she said. Having discussed the plans in depth with council staff and engineers, the Kiltealy NS Board of Management issued the following statement regarding the SRTS scheme at their school. 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Irish Independent
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- Irish Independent
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Irish Independent
11-08-2025
- Irish Independent
Refusal of Wicklow solar farm appealed to An Comisiún Pleanála
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