Urgent need for road safety at Laragh NS
The need for road safety measures at Laragh National School was brought to the fore of this month’s meeting of the Bailieborough-Cootehill Municipal District meeting, which took place in Cootehill Courthouse on Friday.
Cllr Val Smith (FG) raised the matter when he told members that the area where the school is situated is along a busy main road with the church, afterschool and a shop close by. Cllr Smith highlighted how children are unable to cross the road because it had become “very, very dangerous” to do so.
The meeting heard that a number of markings were laid down along the route in more recent times but they weren’t enough owing to the fact that the amber lights have since stopped working.
“I want to know when the necessary works will be carried out,” demanded Cllr Smith before adding that the situation has reached fever pitch.
His party colleague, Cllr Carmel Brady, meanwhile, pointed to the new community park that has been established in the locality and added; “That is directly leading to more traffic in the area too.”
Area engineer, Clinton Mulligan, told those gathered that Kelly Roadmarkings had provided advanced markings at the school in recent months but warned the 80km/h speeding zone in the area “wasn’t helping matters”. He remained hopeful, however, that the necessary works needed at the school would be carried out during this month, February.
The meeting heard that a survey is currently being conducted in Co Cavan to ascertain priority works. Mr Mulligan assured local representatives that, once the results were in, areas would be identified and the necessary works carried out with urgency.
Speed limit review
Cllr Aidan Fitzpatrick (FF) then pointed to the national speed limit review that is in the pipeline for this year. He said it was his understanding that zones with schools would see the speed limit reduced to 50km/h - a move all members agreed would be welcomed.
Director of Services, Paddy Connaghton, explained there is an “issue” nationally with speed limit consistency.
“The limits need to be the same everywhere and the review will also address that,” he elaborated.
In conclusion, Cathaoirleach of the MD, Cllr Clifford Kelly, highlighted the need for the Department of Education to provide funding for car parking and safety measures at schools, instead of the bill for such initiatives being footed by local authorities.
“There needs to be a condition in planning permissions that the Department provides the necessary funding because all of that is coming from council coffers at the moment and that is not right,” he said.