Necessary safety works at Ballina school delayed 

Essential safety works at a Ballina national school must wait until the town’s Local Transport Plan (LTP) is finalized.

Cllr Annie May Reape raised a motion stressing the need for these works to be carried out as soon as possible at last week’s Municipal District meeting.

She asked senior engineer Orla Bourke to explain the application procedure and why there would be delays in order to prevent ‘aspiring candidates’ from claiming that these works could be completed ‘in a couple of weeks.’ 

“A provision of cycle lanes and footpaths to facilitate Culleens school is in the LTP. It is proposal 2, under short term delivery,” said Ms Bourke.

“The funding for this work will come from the National Transport Authority (NTA), who prefer to deliver the funding when there is a plan in place. We would anticipate funding would be provided once the LTP is adopted.” 

Ms Bourke said she could not put a timeline on the works because of the need to have a plan in place before drawing funding. She said the school could put forward a Safe Routes to School application and it would be prioritized by the NTA.