Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 26 Jan 1995

Vol. 448 No. 2

Adjournment Debate. - Leitrim School Parking Facilities.

Mr. Ellis

I congratulate Deputy Allen on his appointment as Minister of State at the Department of Education and Deputies Richard Bruton, Noonan and Deenihan on their appointments.

Due to traffic congestion in the Summerhill area of Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim, the local residents protested in the week following the opening of the new comprehensive school. This led to major problems for students attending the school, and those travelling by bus had to be dropped off approximately a half a mile from the school. In the present inclement weather conditions this caused grave concern to parents, teachers and pupils.

I intervened in the case two weeks ago and secured agreement from Bus Éireann, the residents, the local authority, the parents' association and school management that a site adjacent to the comprehensive school — which is used as a parking area for the sports complex and the school — could be used as a parking area for school buses. As this area is adjacent to the school it would alleviate the dangers that arise when children are dropped off a half a mile from the school. The local residents agreed the position could continue for two weeks pending an application by the school management to the Department for insurance cover to indemnify the trustees of the sports complex if any person was injured while alighting from a bus in the area. We are awaiting a reply from the Department.

Unofficially the Department has informed me and the school that it is not in a position to extend insurance cover to the area in question, but I do not accept that because the area is used by the pupils on a daily basis when using the sports complex which is part of the site on which the new school is located. The Minister of State has taken a personal interest in the matter in the past 24 hours and I hope that interest will yield the result everybody seeks. My colleague, Senator Reynolds, who is a member of the Minister's party, Senator Mooney and other Members of the Oireachtas have also raised the matter.

It is important this concession is given. The route used by the buses is also used by ambulances based in St. Patrick's Hospital. This could cause problems in the case of an emergency as there could be major delays in the event of a traffic jam on Summerhill. The residents of Summerhill feel that the increased traffic which would result from the buses being routed through Summerhill exceeds what the area can take. In this day and age pupils should not be asked to walk a half mile to the school carrying heavy bags in inclement weather.

I hope the Minister of State can accede to my request to have the insurance cover extended to this area only for the use of students attending the school. Nobody else can expect to have insurance cover by the Department of Education.

Minister of State at the Department of Education (Mr. Allen)

I thank Deputy Ellis for raising this matter and also Senator Reynolds who discussed the matter with me privately.

I understand that this matter has arisen from a group of residents, living in the Summerhill area adjacent to the newly opened Carrick-on-Shannon Community School, objecting to six school buses ferrying pupils to and from the school using the Summerhill road.

The residents have stated that the buses will cause traffic congestion in their area and they have requested that the buses use an alternative route. The alternative routes are the Circular Road which I understand is narrow and in poor condition and would require upgrading at considerable cost and a secondary route linking the N4 Dublin —Sligo road.

A meeting was held on 13 January 1995 between representatives of Leitrim County Council, representatives of Bus Éireann, the Summerhill Residents' Association, the Parents' Association of the school and the local transport liaison officer. A temporary arrangement was reached for a two week period which allows three buses use the Summerhill road and three buses use the Circular Road.

In planning the building of the new community school in Carrick-on-Shannon, the Department envisaged that the Summerhill road would be used as the school bus route leading to the school. To facilitate the safe alighting and embarking by the students, the Department provided extensive footpaths and a set down point for school buses along the north perimeter of the school site bordering the public road linking with the Summerhill road. The cost of these works was £10,000. There were no objections from local residents while this arrangement was being put in place.

It would not be possible for buses using either of the alternative routes to use the designated set down point to the north of the school site. Therefore, it has been suggested that the car park belonging to the sports complex situated to the south of the school site would be a suitable bus park venue. This proposal would entail a walk of up to 200 metres for the students.

The sports complex in question is privately owned and is vested in trustees, whose permission would be required to allow for its use as a bus park and it is not known at this point if this would be forthcoming. The car park may also require re-surfacing and other remedial works at considerable further expense.

In addressing the question of insurance in respect of the car park for use as a set down and pick up point for the students who travel to school by school bus the question of extending the school insurance cover to the car park would have to be considered so as to indemnify the trustees from any insurance claims arising from any accidents or damage. With regard to community schools, the State provides a general indemnity to the authorities of these schools in lieu of their taking out insurance cover against liabilities which may arise. The State indemnity, however, does not extend beyond the perimeter of the school premises except in circumstances where pupils are required to use premises outside the school grounds as part of the school curriculum. For example, in this particular case the pupils of Carrick-on-Shannon community school use the sports complex for physical education purposes and this is covered by the State indemnity. In such circumstances the school must arrange for adequate supervision of the students.

In view of the significant exposure which would be involved in extending the State indemnity to the car park and having regard to the expense which this Department has already gone to in providing footpaths and set down points to secure the safety of pupils arriving at and departing from this school and the unsuitability of the Circular Road, the Department would not be prepared to involve the Exchequer in any additional expenditure in this matter by extending the State indemnity.

In view of the concerns expressed this afternoon by Deputy Ellis, and earlier today by Senator Reynolds. I am asking my Department to examine the options available.