Councillor Wayne Harding arranged a recent meeting between the school and a Meath County Council engineer in St. Patrick's National School. We got an opportunity to outline the difficulties for children and families walking, cycling and scooting to school. A big focus was on the pedestrian crossing, as well as sight lines in both directions. Concerns were also raised about visibility for motorists as they approach the crossing. Councillor Harding identified that the flashing speed sign, which tells motorists how fast they are travelling, was not working. This has since been fixed.

Meath County Council has since replied to inform us that it will be planning and proposing a range of measures to improve safety for the school community coming and going from school. This will include the removal of some parking spaces and the painting of railings to improve visibility. In addition, an upgrade of works on the pedestrian crossing will be taking place to extend the gap between lights going red and the pedestrian green light being activated.

Students have been monitoring traffic levels and air quality outside our school and, for the second year in a row, both levels are extremely high.

We would like to thank Councillor Harding for arranging the meeting, Meath County Council staff, including Road Safety Officer, Audrey Norris and the St. Patrick's National School Parents' Association, who have been campaigning for further measures in this area.