Active travel plans for two North Mayo schools

Preferred options for Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS) schemes for two north Mayo schools have been presented to councillors in the Ballina Municipal District.

SRTS schemes are designed to encourage as many pupils and students as possible in primary and post-primary schools to use active travel to get to and from school.

Carn National School in Moygownagh and Scoil Iosa in Ballina are two of the schools that were successful in applying for the programme. Tobin Engineers gave a presentation at last week's meeting of Ballina Municipal District outlining plans for the two schools, which both have currently just completed Phase 2 (concept and preferred option) of the scheme.

Jessica Lima, from Tobin Engineers, told the meeting that a number of existing constraints have been identified at Carn NS, associated with footpaths, nearby roads and drop-off parking during school times. The proposed changes are designed to improve safety and these include a 30kmh speed limit with warning signage, raised zebra and toucan crossings, widening of footpaths and road narrowing on the Knocknashammer Road. Bollards will be installed to prevent parking in the area and ‘Park and Stride’ locations will be established.

Head of Active Travel with Mayo County Council Cathy Mellett added that the nearby Moygownagh GAA Club will be accommodated in the scheme with the extension of a safe footpath.

Ms Lima said they expect construction to be complete by Summer 2026 for the Carn scheme.

In relation to Scoil Iosa, Ms Lima said the existing constraints include a lack of priority for pedestrians and cyclists on McDermott Street in addition to dangerous and illegal parking. The proposed changes include infrastructure improvements for crossings and footpaths, new 30kmh speed limits close to Scoil Iosa and on the approach from McDermott Street, footpath widening and pa dedicated pedestrian path. Road markings will also be used to demarcate the school zone with a ‘Park and Stride’ location to be created.

Land will have to be acquired from the nearby St Patrick’s Church for the scheme, which should be in place by Summer 2026.

Ms Mellett added that these works in Ballina will address a "gap in the footpath network" outside St Dymphna’s School. She said they expect people to be ‘skeptical’ of park and stride parking but SRTS is about encouraging behavioral changes as well as developing infrastructure.

“The school is going to work with parents for behavioural change on parking. Where cars are gathering at the moment, they will no longer be able to when the scheme is complete,” she said.

“We will trial this in the meantime, close off this area and have people policing it.”