Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Individual school authorities are responsible, in the first instance, for ensuring the safety and welfare of children and others in their care, including traffic management measures.

My Department will examine existing traffic management and safety at a school grounds where we are looking a wider building project or as part of a planning application for an extension at a school. It is also open to a school authority to look for funding to improve traffic safety on school grounds through applying under a future summer works scheme.

As you may be aware, the purpose of the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) is to enable individual school authorities to undertake small-scale building works on a devolved basis and, ideally, can be carried out during the summer months or at other times that avoid disrupting the operation of the school. The SWS operates on a multi-annual basis for categories of works such as roof works, window replacement, mechanical and electrical works, external works etc. and was last opened for applications in 2019.

As part of it’s planning for 2024 and beyond, Department officials are considering and planning for the next phases of the summer works programme and the opportunities this may create to support the sustainability agenda. In this regard, it is envisaged at this stage that, a Multi-Annual SWS with a focus on climate action and energy conservation will be the focus for the next summer works scheme to be opened for applications. The arrangements and timing of that SWS is still under consideration and schools will be updated in due course.

It is also open to a school authority to use their capitation grant or their minor work grant to improve traffic safety on their school grounds. The capitation grant is paid to primary and voluntary secondary schools. It is based on the number of recognised pupils enrolled in the schools. Capitation grants are paid at the applicable rate at the time the grant is issued.

The issue of road safety measures outside the vested site areas of schools, such as road signage, traffic calming measures etc., is a matter that should be raised in the first instance with the relevant Local Authority. Local Authorities have the power to decide on road safety measures outside schools and should ensure that measures are in place to protect the safety of local school children.