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Schools Health and Safety

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 December 2015

Wednesday, 9 December 2015

Questions (12)

Helen McEntee

Question:

12. Deputy Helen McEntee asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she needs to be more assertive with local authorities in setting out the parking and road safety requirements of schools; if her remit, which includes administrative responsibility for over 3,000 rural schools, requires a formal school car parking policy that takes account of the reliance on car transport in rural areas; if the shortage of parking facilities in three schools (details supplied) in County Meath is a significant safety concern for teachers, parents, pupils and public representatives; what is required to address these risks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43695/15]

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Written answers

In general, individual school authorities are responsible, in the first instance, for ensuring the safety and welfare of children and others in their care.

The issue of road safety measures outside the vested site areas of schools on public roads, such as road signage, traffic calming measures etc., is a matter, for the relevant Local Authority. Local Authorities have the power to decide on road safety measures outside schools to ensure that measures are in place to protect the safety of local school children. My Department has no function in this matter.

I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department's Technical Guidance Document – TGD-020 sets out the general principles of Universal Design in schools, which includes guidance on car parking, set-down/pick up areas. In the case of school building projects, parking provision should be as stated in the guidance documents, subject to the planning requirements of the relevant Local Authority.

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