Kerry councillors decry frozen budget for school wardens amid road safety concerns

By Alastair Tibbs, The Kerryman

Kerry councillors have criticised the lack of funding for a school warden in the council’s 2026 budget, emphasising the urgency of road safety measures in the county.

The budget for school wardens is set to remain the same for 2026 at €260,000, despite previous calls for new wardens to be trained up.

Last week, a Castleisland Municipal District (MD) meeting heard a deputation from the town’s Scoil Noamh Chárthaigh, warning of the risk to life on the busy College Road hosting three schools.

At the budget meeting, Councillor Jackie Healy-Rae was first to point out the stasis in funding for wardens.

“We’re absolutely saying a blanket no to any school warden because there’s no money for it,” said Councillor Jackie Healy-Rae.

He questioned the effectiveness of road safety publicity and promotion activities, which was allocated €115,000 in the budget.

Ramps and traffic signs, he said, seemed impossible to get.

Councillor Charlie Farrelly, who had previously organised the deputation heard at Castleisland MD, was also gutted at the lack of movement on warden expenditure.

“You heard first hand,” he said of last week’s deputation, “a junior road safety officer coming in nearly in tears, begging Kerry County Council for a school warden.”

“Where is the money for the four or five school wardens?” he asked.

The council said they were carrying out a countywide traffic safety review with a view to re-assess funding in September 2026.

Transport, including funding of traffic wardens and speed ramps, they said, are funded by national revenue schemes and thus not within their power to re-allocate.