Omission of Kerry school from safety scheme ‘unbelievable’ says councillor

By Alastair Tibbs, The Kerryman

A Kerry councillor has warned of “chaos” at a local school during rush hours, urging the council to put in measures to safeguard children and parents.

Councillor Tommy Griffin slammed the omission of a school in Milltown from the safe routes to school list as “unbelievable”, highlighting the lack of investment in the town.

A deputation of representatives from Milltown’s Nagle Rice Primary School was heard at the recent Castleisland Municipal District meeting.

The school, which teaches nearly 250 children and serves 247 families, is situated on the busy Killarney to Dingle Road, the R563.

Michelle O’Connor, a member of the Nagle Rice parents’ association, presented a slideshow, showing the poor state of footpaths along the road to the school and spots where there was no footpath at all.

Passing lorries and trucks would blow “the hair off your head” on these narrow footpaths, she said. She also pointed out there was nothing along the road informing drivers of a school ahead.

The deputation asked for speed ramps to be installed and the provision of a lollipop man, along with footpath improvements.

Cllr Griffin echoed Ms O’Connor’s comments, adding the road was “dangerous” during school rush hours.

“It’s chaos during drop-off and pick-up times,” he said, “there’s been such development in Milltown and a lack of investment.”

He said it was “infuriating” that development levies from a site directly across from Nagle Rice were being invested in a crossing in Castleisland and “not a penny” will go to Milltown.

The meeting heard that 27 schools were ahead of Nagle Rice on the safe routes to school list.

Councillor Breandán Fitzgerald dubbed the Killarney to Dingle Road “one of the busiest in the county” and said the deputation’s suggestions were “a minimum ask”. He suggested pushing the project forward within the town teams.

“It would be a win, win, win for everybody. A win for the pupils, a win for the school, a win for the community and a win for the council,” he said.

While councillor Jackie Healy-Rae pointed out the MD was “starving for money”, with only €60,000 for footpaths for the entire district, Councillor Robert Brosnan suggested putting councillors’ allocations forward for the works.

The council said safety around the school had been highlighted in Milltown’s town centre masterplan which would be developed over a number of years.

They urged the school to apply to the safe routes to school scheme despite the backlog and advised the “more modest” low-cost accidents initiative could also provide funding.