No funding for safety improvements outside Kildare special school
St Mark's
IT has emerged that there is no funding available to carry out road safety improvement works at a special needs school in Newbridge.
St Mark’s Special School on Station Road in Newbridge has been facing traffic, access and safety issues, with 10 students writing a letter to a local councillor on the matter.
Cllr Chris Pender raised the issue at the most recent meeting of Kildare Newbridge Municipal District (MD), asking that the council arrange a site meeting between the MD engineer and the students and the school to discuss the issues raised. Cllr Pender also requested that a report on actions agreed by the involved parties be brought back to the next MD meeting in January.
Cllr Pender remarked at the recent meeting that “a lot of resurfacing work has been done” around the school but added that glass on footpaths has been causing issues for students, especially those using wheelchairs.
A representative from Kildare County Council (KCC) at the meeting said that they would be happy to meet with representatives of the school. A report issued by Mark McLoughlin, senior executive officer stated that funding is not currently available for the potential road safety improvement works.
St Mark’s caters for pupils who have been assessed as having a mild general learning disability. It was established in 1974, moving to its’ present location on Station Road in 1978.
