Councillors raise concerns over planned drop-off zone 400 metres away from Mayo school
Councillors have expressed concern over the lack of public consultation surrounding plans for an active travel project outside Cong National School.
The project, part of An Taisce’s Safer Routes to School (SRTS) programme, proposes infrastructure changes to improve access and enhance safety at the school. It is funded through the National Transport Authority (NTA) and Mayo Active Travel.
Preliminary designs were presented by engineers from TOBIN to members of the Claremorris and Swinford Municipal District. While councillors broadly welcomed the project and the focus on safety, they criticised the consultation process and highlighted that this was the first time they had seen any plans.
“The engagement with me as a local public representative hasn’t happened. That, as part of this process, needs improving because the first people who will be contacted the minute there are issues here, will be the public representatives,” said Cllr Damien Ryan.
He stressed that while he supports infrastructure improvements, the community and its elected representatives must be properly consulted. He also requested a hard copy of the design and an on-site visit “in the very near future”. A request which planners agreed to, while apologising for the lack of engagement to date.
A key feature of the project is the introduction of a Park and Stride zone aimed at reducing traffic and improving safety at the school gates. However, councillors questioned the zone’s location which is 300-400m away from the gates.
“In relation to wet mornings, even with the best will in the world, there will be attempts to drop off outside the school,” warned Cllr Ryan. “That needs to be given more consideration.”
In response, planners said behavioural change would be a central part of encouraging families to use the Park and Stride model.
Cllr Alma Gallagher noted this might not be practical for all families: “In an ideal world behavioural change is the way to go, but when you’re going to work, you’re under pressure and the weather is poor, to drop them at the gate and go is sometimes the only option available,”
Another element of the plan involves narrowing the R345 carriageway, to slow down traffic and improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists. Cllr Patsy O’Brien questioned whether this would accommodate the 200 plus HGVs that use the road daily.
Planners responded that the proposed width would cater for the nature of traffic that uses it, and said further detailed analysis would become available as the scheme passes through the design phase.
Cllr Gallagher asked how schools are selected for the SRTS programme, noting that several schools in Mayo are interested in joining.
Officials clarified that Mayo County Council is not involved in the initial application process. Instead, An Taisce advertises the scheme directly to schools, and principals must submit applications or expressions of interest. An Taisce then decides which schools are accepted. It isn't until after this decision that Mayo County Council would be made aware of which schools are in the programme.
Councillors were told that 21 Mayo schools have been included in three rounds of funding released through the SRTS programme. A further 30 are waiting to be included in the next round.
The NTA have advised that no further calls are to be made for schools to be a part of the SRTS programme until existing schools have gone through the system.
“It’s not a very transparent process and it’s not encouraging to hear we have to address 51 schools before other schools can come on stream,” said Cllr Gallagher,
“We have a lot of development around schools now, the population of our students is increasing. There needs to be more consultation with the local councillors, there needs to be more transparency in terms of how schools are selected.”
Construction of the active travel programme is set to start sometime between late 2025 and Spring 2026.
Other elements of the project include the introduction of a 30 km/h speed limit in the vicinity of the school, a raised zebra crossing on the R345 road, widened footpaths, a dedicated pedestrian route, new road markings, warning signs, school zone banners, and a coloured gateway totem.
These proposals aim to improve safety and encourage slower vehicle speeds at the front of the school. The plan emphasises pedestrian and cyclist safety, in line with the SRTS programme’s goal to reduce car use for school travel.
In June 2025, €1.4 million was allocated in Mayo as part of the SRTS programme. Minister of State Alan Dillon welcomed the news and said: "It’s so important that we are supporting students to walk, cycle, scoot or take public transport to school which makes routes to school safer and helps with relieving local traffic congestion.”
This article has been funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.