APPEALS FOR a pedestrian crossing and lights plus the presence of a lollipop persons have been made for Mullagh National School.
Veteran councillors, PJ Kelly (FF) and Gabriel Keating (FG) unbeknownst to each other both lodged similar proposals before the West Clare Municipal District regarding the West Clare primary school.
A pedestrian crossing with lights between the car park and the entrance/exit points of the school was requested by Kelly while Keating asked for an enhancement of road safety measures which included a zebra crossing road marking and a lollipop person.
Senior executive engineer in the West Clare MD, Alan Kennelly in his response suggested the school apply to the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programme to fund the requested works. SRTS is operated by the Green Schools Programme by the Department of Education and An Taisce in partnership with the Department of Transport and local authorities.
Kennelly said, “There is a SRTS design guide and I’d suggest that works should be carried out in accordance with the design guide. Mullagh National School is registered with SRTS. I will raise the possibility of accessing SRTS/Active Travel funding with our road design office”.
On the fact that two elected representatives raised the matter, Cllr Kelly remarked, “the board of management in Mullagh must be contacting both sides of the house, one of them requested lights and a crossing but Cllr Keating is more creative and wants a lollypop person there. For the weather in Quilty, you won’t need an umbrella for the lights but you will need a permanent one for the lollipop lady. They have an active board of management and won’t be found wanting”.
Sharp-witted Keating responded, “I got communication from the principal and vice principal, they didn’t mention Cllr Kelly to me” to which the long-serving Lissycasey man answered back, “I advised them to go to you as a good helper” and pointed out that his colleague played football against the Board of Management’s chairperson.
“Alan didn’t waste any words with the same reply,” Keating noted of the senior engineer’s response to which Cathaoirleach of the West Clare MD, Cllr Shane Talty observed, “it was the same question”.
An application for SRTS was made by the school in 2021, Cllr Keating stated. “It’s back to our engineer in Kilrush to come up with a solution here, we do have a problem in Mullagh regarding footpaths upgrades, he was to talk to me about that. I am hoping when he goes to Mullagh to do the footpaths, he might call into the school and have a chat with the principal. I always like to help a school in a rural area, by and large they do great work with the children both during hours and after with different games”.
Kennelly acknowledged they hadn’t been to visit the school as of yet. “I’ve met with the local publican and we’ve some bits to do, it’s slow but we’ll get there. Small rural schools would be high on my list of priorities, my father was principal of a small rural school for 40 years so I agree with what you’re saying. Mullagh has registered with the NTA on the safe routes scheme, they not chosen for first round of funding but they are registered, I think they will receive funding in subsequent rounds”.
This prompted Cllr Keating to request his comments in writing and Kenneally repeated “just because they didn’t get round one doesn’t mean they won’t get it in subsequent rounds”.
