School zone signage needed in Laois village following accidents

Road signage is needed to warn tourists visiting a Laois village that they are entering a school zone, according to a local councillor.

Councillor Vivienne Phelan requested that Laois County Council install appropriate road signage to highlight school traffic in Killenard at the January meeting of the Graiguecullen / Portarlington MD. 

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Phelan said that the issue has been raised with her multiple times in recent weeks.

She explained that visitors at The Heritage Hotel in Killenard may be unaware that there is school traffic in the area, saying "they don't necessarily realise there's a school there and there has been a few accidents recently."

The Fine Gael councillor told the council that she had been in touch with the National Transport Authority regarding the Safer Routes to School Programme, but distinguished that her motion is separate to this programme.

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The Safer Routes to Schools Programme was developed in partnership by the NTA, Green-Schools and An Taisce as a way of supporting schools to increase walking and cycling to school.

Cllr Phelan said "just basic signage would be a help."

Senior Executive Engineer for the Graiguecullen / Portarlington MD, Tom Drennan, told Cllr Phelan that Laois County Council would review the existing signage and, if warranted, consider providing additional signage to warn and advise motorists about school traffic movements.

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