Written answers

Tuesday, 13 November 2007

Department of Education and Science

Health and Safety Issues

9:00 pm

Photo of Tommy BroughanTommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 73: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the plans she has to introduce measures that will encourage more students to walk to school or encourage a car pooling system to combat the congestion on Irish roads every school day; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28465/07]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The question of whether children walk to and from school or are driven as part of a car pooling initiative is a matter for decision by their parents. However, it is clear that walking to school can make an important contribution to children's health and to developing their sense of road safety as well as decreasing traffic congestion around school routes. Many local authorities have developed schemes to encourage walking to school, through initiatives such as the organisation of a 'walking bus', the provision of school traffic wardens, the organisation of Walk to School Weeks, and the development of 'park and stride' initiatives. Local authorities are also involved in promoting car pooling initiatives.

An Taisce's Green Schools Initiative includes initiatives such as the Safer Routes to School Project which aims to increase the number of children who walk and cycle, increase the number of families who 'park and stride' or 'carpool', and reduce school-related congestion. The Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE) Programme in all primary schools includes a specific 'safety and protection' strand which is designed to develop in children an increasing sense of personal responsibility for their own safety and that of others. The learning objectives of this strand specifically include such issues as safety strategies for crossing the road, using the bus or being a pedestrian, crossing the road with an adult, and being familiar with the rules for travelling in a car or bus, or on a bicycle.

SPHE is also a mandatory junior cycle subject at second-level. The SPHE curriculum at both primary level and in the junior cycle at second-level stresses the importance of daily exercise and a healthy diet to maintaining health and well being. The 'personal safety' strand of the junior cycle programme includes such issues as road safety and is supported by a range of curriculum materials. In addition, a road safety programme for use in Transition Year has been developed and is currently being piloted by the Road Safety Authority in collaboration with my Department, the NCCA and the Second Level Support Service.

In addition school transport services are operated by Bus Éireann on behalf my Department. Some 135,000 children are carried annually under the scheme, of which 8,500 are children with special needs. Transport is provided by Bus Éireann and private providers with a mix of large, medium and minibuses, as well as a number of car taxis. One of the effects of provision on this scale is to lessen the amount of children being transported to school in cars. The Department of Transport has also begun the process of developing a Sustainable Travel and Transport Action Plan, which the Government is committed to publishing in the Spring of 2008. My Department is represented on the Steering Group set up to oversee the development of the plan, and the plan will specifically address the issues relating to children travelling to and from school.

Finally, in February of this year, the Road Safety Authority launched the RSA MACE "Safe to School" campaign at primary level, which is aimed at helping primary school children learn effective road safety lessons. The first part of this campaign is about walking to school safely and as part of this initiative educational packs and DVDs have been distributed to all primary schools and a Walking to School Guide has been produced. A dedicated website, www.safetoschool.ie, has also been launched as part of the campaign.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.