Estimated cost of €390k for Safe Routes to School scheme at Coláiste Íosagáin

A cost of €390,000 has been estimated for a Safe Routes to School scheme at Coláiste Íosagáin in Portarlington (R420).

The primary objective of the scheme is to improve safety and accessibility for students attending Coláiste losagáin Secondary School, while also delivering wider benefits for the local community.

The proposed scheme aims to address existing issues that impact on the safety and accessibility of the school environment and to encourage increased levels of walking, cycling, and other forms of active travel.

The proposed development will comprise a range of targeted safety and accessibility improvements. Central to the scheme is the introduction of "Front of School" interventions through the designation of a School Zone.

This will incorporate identifiable features such as pencil-style bollards and coloured surface treatments to clearly highlight the presence of the school, encourage reduced vehicle speeds, discourage parking on footpaths, and promote safer and more appropriate drop-off and pick-up behaviour outside the immediate school area.

In addition to improvements at the school frontage, it is proposed to undertake enhancement works along key access routes to Coláiste losagáin Secondary School, including Patrick Street (R423), Tullamore Road (R420), and Bog Road (L5015).

These measures are intended to support initiatives such as park-and-stride and to encourage students to walk, cycle, and scoot to school.

The scheme has been designed in accordance with the principles, approaches, and standards set out in the most recent versions of the Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets (DURS) and the Safe Routes to School Design Guide.

Plans and particulars of the proposed Coláiste Íosagáin Active Travel Scheme were available for inspection or purchase from April 16 for a period of four week ending May 15. No submissions were made on the project.