Funding required at Dunkineely NS ‘is a matter of child safety’

The “lack of progress” in implementing road safety measures at Dunkineely National School was highlighted in the Seanad. 

Senator Manus Boyle laid out the safety concerns on the N56 where the school is situated and underlined the need for funding to be made available.

 “I want to raise the urgent matter of road safety outside Dunkineely National School, in my locality,” he said. “There has been a lack of progress on implementing traffic calming measures, which have been repeatedly called for by local representatives, parents and gardaí. 

“The school is located on the N56, a busy national secondary road that has had multiple near misses recently. The speed in the school zone is unacceptable and children, parents and staff are at risk at drop-offs and pick-ups. 

“I have repeatedly raised this issue and I have called for an update from TII, but have received vague responses about ongoing reports. It has now emerged that funding for the road safety improvement may not be available until 2026, which is simply too late. 

“I ask the Minister of State to provide a clear update on the status of the traffic calming measures planned for Dunkineely National School, to confirm whether the Department and TII visited the site, to explain why emergency funding was not made available to rectify this and to outline the interim safety measures that can be implemented to protect children. 

“This is not just a matter of infrastructure; it is a matter of child safety. We cannot wait until tragedy strikes before action is taken. The community has done everything to highlight this issue. It is now time for the State to stand up and get this done before something happens. It is getting very dangerous.

“The parents do their bit at the school and, in fairness, the gardaí come and sit on one side to slow the traffic down. Something has to be done here. It cannot continue to be brushed off as it has for the past two years.

Deputy Kieran O’Donnell responded to Senator Boyle’s concerns on behalf of the Minister of Transport, Deputy Darragh O'Brien.

“I understand that safety at this location is of concern to the senator and those he represents, particularly the children, parents and teaching staff of the school,” Deputy O’Donnell said. “The Minister for Transport has responsibility for overall policy and Exchequer funding in relation to the national roads programme. 

“Once funding arrangements have been put in place for Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads Acts 1993-2015, in line with the national development plan, planning, design, improvement and upgrading of individual roads is a matter for TII in conjunction with the local authority concerned. 

“The priority in the NDP is to maintain the quality and safety of the existing road network. In the context of the national roads programme capital budget, which is provided by the Department to TII, significant funding has been provided towards safeguarding the national road network.

“In 2025, approximately €15.6 million in capital Exchequer funding was allocated for the protection of the existing national road network in Donegal. This included allocations for minor road improvements on the N56. TII's road safety section discussed the progression of potential safety improvements on the N56 at Dunkineely National School with Donegal County Council in a meeting held in March of this year. 

“Donegal County Council has developed an assessment of potential options at this location. This work has contributed to a feasibility report setting out safety measures that Donegal County Council proposes to implement, the estimated scheme costs and the expected safety benefits. This report is being considered by TII and approval to commence the design stage has been given to Donegal County Council. Works at this location will be considered for progression in 2026, subject to funding availability. There has been progress.

“I hope that sheds some light for the parents, teachers and children of the school. With regard to the safe routes to school programme, invitations to make expressions of interest were sent to all primary and secondary schools in the country. A total of 932 schools applied for the Safe Routes to School programme. This equates to around a quarter of all schools in the country. A total of 170 schools were selected for round 1 of the programme in summer 2021. Round 2 of the safe routes to school programme, consisting of 108 schools, was announced on 12 December 2022. Round 3, which was launched in November 2024, saw a further 141 schools enter the programme.

“The nature of the safe routes to school programme is that all schools that initially applied will eventually enter the programme on a rolling basis and there will be no need to reapply. I understand that Dunkineely National School did not apply to the programme. It should be noted, however, that because a school is not currently in the Safe Routes to School programme, it does not mean that it will not receive any new or improved active travel infrastructure.

“While there are no plans for an additional call for schools to join the programme currently, funding for active travel infrastructure for schools is not confined to the safe routes to schools programme alone. 

“In some cases, schools outside the safe routes to school programme are included in wider active travel projects if they are in the vicinity of these works. In fact, all active travel funding looks to improve links to schools, where possible, and this will be provided through the programme for the Government commitment that €360 million in cross-government funding will be spent on walking and cycling per annum over the lifetime of the Government.

Senator Manus Boyle reiterated the urgency of the funding required to quell local safety concerns.

“It is my understanding that Dunkineely National School did not apply for the safe routes to school programme because the process would simply take too long,” Senator Boyle added. “We do not have time in this instance. We are talking about a busy road that caters for all the traffic that is going to Donegal and Killybegs. Large lorries loaded with fish heading to Dublin pass the school. 

“The Minister of State drove past it. He understands that it is situated on a hill. I showed it to him. He gets where I am coming from. Lorries coming down the hill travel at speed. It is very hard for vehicles to stop at the traffic lights outside the school. Traffic calming measures have to be put in place throughout the village of Dunkineely. 

“It will be too late when something happens. I do not want to be standing here in a year and asking where the traffic calming measures are now. It is something that needs to be done as soon as possible for the sake of our children going to school, their parents and the teachers. Were it not for the people who stand at the traffic lights every day and man them to make sure the children cross the roads safely, there would be an accident.”

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Deputy O'Donnell stressed that he appreciated the importance of the concerns raised and requested that Senator Boyle update the minister with the most recent information. 

“The Minister for Transport is conscious of the importance of ensuring road safety, particularly in the vicinity of schools. Senator Boyle will be well aware that getting progress on projects is a process. As I stated in the initial answer from the Minister, TIl’s road safety section discussed the progression of potential safety improvements at N56 Dunkineely National School with Donegal County Council at a meeting held in March. Donegal County Council has developed an assessment of potential options at this location. 

“This work has contributed to a feasibility report setting out the safety measures that Donegal County Council propose to implement, the estimated scheme costs and the expected safety benefits. This report has been considered by TIl and approval to commence the design stage has been given to Donegal County Council. Works at this location will be considered for progression in 2026, subject to funding availability.

“I suggest that the Senator provide updated information to the Minister for Transport. This will come to the attention of the Minister and the officials, but in terms of the structure and process, I ask that he write formally to the Minister to update him on where matters stand. He will be linking in with Donegal County Council and TII as well.

“I know how important this matter is. A process is underway. It is now a question of the funding being made available to ensure that this progresses as quickly as possible.”