asked the Minister for the Environment if he will instruct his Department to approve danger lights (a) on the national primary road beside the school at Slane, County Meath (b) on the Navan Road beside the school at Kells and (c) on the national primary road beside the school at Clonard; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - County Meath Road Warning Lights.
124.
In December 1986, my Department issued a circular letter to local authorities generally authorising the use, on an experimental basis, of a new traffic sign to be provided at the approaches to schools in certain circumstances. While initially the scope of the experiment was limited to four chosen counties, subsequently each local authority was advised that 50 per cent of the cost of the provision of signs at the approach to one school in their functional area would be recouped following receipt of an appropriate application.
I understand that Meath County Council have provided the sign at the approaches to Rathbeggan school in Dunshaughlin.
In June 1988, Meath County Council requested that the provision of signs at the schools referred to by the Deputy be authorised. They were informed by the Department that, pending completion of an evaluation of the effect of the signs provided as part of the experiment, the provision of additional signs could not be authorised. This evaluation will be completed as soon as possible. In the meantime, it would not be appropriate to take the action referred to by the Deputy.