Criticism of 'Safe Route to School' scheme in Kildare Town

A COUNCILLOR has called out what she claimed was a three times refusal for a site meeting with officials on the implementation of traffic calming measures at St Brigid's Primary School in Kildare.

Cllr Suzanne Doyle was seeking an expansion of the design for the work to include dealing with 'pinch points' on the way to the school, including a footpath that is too narrow for pushing a buggy, forcing people doing so to step onto the road. 

Referring to a previous timeline, the councillor also wanted to know if the work would be carried out during the current summer school holidays.

She was told that the public consultation on the matter had been completed, and any changes made to the project would require a new public consultation. Officials said there isn't enough money in the budget, and the scheme could not be started until a further allocation is agreed with the National Transport Authority (NTA).

That prompted Cllr Doyle to suggest, since the scheme was not going to happen during the summer holidays, there is then time to make amendments and submit a new proposal to the NTA.

The councillor also questioned the public consultation process where she was refused a site meeting three times. "We are going to lose the integrity of the organisation and lose the confidence of the people," she said. Supporting his colleague, Cllr Kevin Duffy said the Council "has no respect for feedback".

Officials said it was not possible to meet everyone on site, and that the area outside the school was the priority. For the council's management team, Eileen Hanlon said that if a scheme goes to public consultation, and is then amended, it has to go to public consultation again. "At some point we have to draw the line," she said.

Public consultation on the project, which is under the Safe Routes to School Scheme, was held from 7 May 2024 to 6 June 2024. There were three submissions from members of the public.