asked the Minister for Education whether primary school children in Dublin receive regular traffic drill, specifically organised either by the teachers or the Garda Síochána and whether the scheme includes Glasnevin, Finglas and the adjoining areas.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Traffic Drill for School Children.
On the resumption of normal motor traffic in November, 1945, members of the Garda Síochána visited schools throughout the State, including Dublin City and gave lectures on road safety to the children. As far as Dublin City was concerned that arrangement was discontinued in September, 1947, due I understand to the fact that the Garda authorities, owing to a shortage of personnel and a considerable increase in traffic and other duties, were unable to allocate any members to continue these lectures. It was felt also that, as the Gardaí had given the initial series of lectures, the school authorities including the teachers would be able to continue the talks in the course of their ordinary school work.
With a view to keeping the matter of road safety constantly before the minds of the children a variety of measures have been adopted by my Department in recent years in cooperation with the Safety First Association of Ireland. Posters prepared by that association have been issued to, and have been prominently displayed in the schools. Short talks on traffic dangers are regularly given by the teachers before the pupils are dismissed and where there is a considerable element of danger the children are trained to leave the school premises in an orderly manner and a teacher usually accompanies them to the school gate or exit.
In the case of the newly developed area of Finglas, Glasnevin, the majority of the children—about 1,300 in number—are being conveyed in C.I.E. buses to suitable schools in the old city area pending the provision of new schools and the completion of those in course of erection in their own locality. Specific loading points for the outward journey have been designated and the queuing up and loading of the children is supervised by officers of the transport company. On the return journey the teachers or the school authorities accompany the children to the loading point in the vicinity of the school.
As regards the schools in the Finglas district itself, I understand that the Gardaí in that district, which is outside the metropolitan area, occasionally visit these schools and give talks on road safety to the children therein.
Will the Minister say if he is really satisfied that sufficient progress is being made in this matter? Would he not have further inquiries made as to whether enough is being done?
I am satisfied that the teachers continue to give suitable and adequate instruction and that the children leave the school premises in a careful and orderly manner.