Growing concerns over traffic management at east Mayo school
East Mayo local election candidate Alma Gallagher, has stated confirmation Scoil Iosa N.S. in Ballyhaunis has received the green light for additional classrooms is welcome news - but funding is also needed for traffic management at the school.
The Department of Education has confirmed that €1.3 million will be available for the completion of four modular mainstream classrooms and two special education teaching rooms at the school.
However the school is still awaiting funding from Mayo County Council to assist with the development of car parking facilities and a looped traffic management system, while many locals in the area have also been seeking the installation of a pedestrian crossing.
Ms. Gallagher stated: “I congratulate the staff and board of management of Scoil Iosa for all their hard work in securing this funding for additional classrooms.
“These new rooms are badly needed and will help address the growing demand for facilities at the school.
"There are now 353 pupils enrolled in Scoil Iosa and there is also a sizeable waiting list. The primary school was also recently designated a Deis school and is now providing hot meals for all students.
“The population of Ballyhaunis continues to grow and with that increase in population comes the need for additional resources.
"There is an increased demand for school places in the area and that is why securing these additional facilities is so vital.
“However Scoil Iosa also needs funding to develop the car parking facilities and a looped traffic management system.
"These are vital for improving safety and traffic flow at the school. The absence of these measures is a safety hazard and is also creating a bottle neck that is impacting on traffic throughout the town of Ballyhaunis at peak times.
“The parking situation is also in dire need of review, given how it is currently impacting both staff and parents.
"The school already owns the site next door, so all that is required is an allocation of funding to get this done. I know a lot of people in the area also want to see a pedestrian crossing installed at the school, again for safety reasons.”
“That is why I am calling on Mayo County Council to urgently allocate sufficient funding through the Clár Programme so the necessary improvements can be made.
"This will help the school, the locals and the entire town of Ballyhaunis. It will also help avoid an accident that is waiting to happen if the current situation persists. I will make this one of my main priorities if I am elected to the council in June."
(Alma Gallagher is a first-time candidate for Fine Gael, aiming to become the first woman ever elected in the Claremorris Electoral Area.
She works as a manager with Clar ICH in Claremorris, where she has been involved in the delivery and management of 70 houses and the retrofitting of 4,000 homes and businesses.
Based in Ballyhaunis, Alma is also an executive member of Ballyhaunis GAA, director of Ballyhaunis Community Council and a member of the Ballyhaunis Sustainable Energy Committee).