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IF YOU ARE a parent you will most likely be packing lunchboxes already or counting down the days until your children restart school. The beginning of any new school year is always approached with a mix of excitement, apprehension and anxiety.
However, we all know that this school year will be very different and I for one am both anxious and excited about my children’s return to the classroom. If you have been juggling working from home with minding children then you are probably desperate to get the morning routine underway and get the kids back out into the world.
The morning routine in every household starts with the journey to school. Usually, this is straightforward but because of Covid-19, we are now asking ourselves what the safest way is in which our kids can travel to school.
The latest Department of Education advice has suggested that school buses will be available for students, however, whether or not parents will be comfortable allowing their children to travel by public transport is still unknown.
A return to the car?
My concern would be that we are going to see a huge increase in the number of families who get back into their cars and end up driving their kids to school. This might seem like the easiest and safest way to get them to the school gates but more cars on our roads will mean more traffic at those gates.
It is critically important that we make sure the front of the school is a safe space for children. This means keeping cars away from the school gates and making sure they’re not parked on footpaths.
The school gate is going to be busy and everyone will be trying to keep a safe distance away from each other, therefore by limiting cars, we are allowing our children to get into their school safely without the worry of cars pulling up onto their footpaths or creating congestion outside the school.
Recent Government guidance has outlined how schools can reallocate space inside the classroom, however, limited guidance has been given with respect to how to manage the space outside the school gates.
The Department of Education is encouraging students to walk and cycle, however, if children face congestion and increased traffic on their route to school then there is less likelihood that families will get out of the car.
Our journey
I have three children who have walked, scooted and now cycle to school so I am well aware of the pros and cons of leaving the car at home. We live in a city centre suburb which has limited infrastructure for cycling, however, the easiest and quickest way to get to school is by bike.
The biggest issue we face along our route is cars parked on footpaths, in cycle lanes, people breaking red lights and speeding. These are all issues that Green-Schools is working hard to reduce in partnership with Local Authorities and other stakeholders, however, ultimately we are all responsible for how we behave on our roads and how we respect other road users.
The most vulnerable road user is a child and by placing the child at the centre of all of decision making then we can make sure kids are able to walk, cycle or scoot safely to school. If you are planning to get back into the car this September I would ask you to try walking, cycling or scooting with your child first.
The benefits of active travel far outweigh the negatives and being active on the school run will help your child to concentrate in school, boost their immune system, reduce their anxiety and increase their sense of independence and freedom.
If more parents choose to leave the car at home then the knock-on effect for everyone will be cleaner air, less congestion, less noise, safer streets and happier neighbourhoods.
I know that some families do not have the infrastructure or live too far away to actively travel to school, however by parking away from the school and walking the last 500 metres you are greatly improving your child’s health and well being as well as the safety at the school gate.
Green-Schools has been working with schools for over ten years to reduce the number of cars at the school gate. The programme is focused on increasing the number of children who walk, cycle, scoot or take public transport so that children & parents have greater choices when it comes to the morning routine.
Support is there
In light of the pandemic, Green-Schools has investigated ways in which to support schools with the reopening. We’ve put together a document entitled Safe to School; An Ideas Document for Safe Access to School.
This should give school Principals and Boards of Management ideas to help children access the school grounds safely. It is also focused on giving priority to walkers and cyclists as well as giving options to car users such as Park ‘n’ Stride, where areas near the school are designated for parking and walking to the gates.
A nationwide survey revealed that schools were particularly concerned about vehicle parking and drop off congestion. These concerns were shared by urban and rural schools and are indicative of the general car culture that exists nationwide.
Some quick wins we have offered schools include informal car-free zones, Park ‘n’ Stride and improved signage as well as giving some suggestions for more formal interventions such as School Streets, School Zones and improved infrastructure.
What is a School Zone?
Green-Schools has been working in partnership with the National Transport Authority and Dublin City Council to trial the first School Zone. The aim is to reallocate space outside the school for children and includes gateway line-marking stating ‘School Zone’ at either end of the area; the front of the school area is demarcated by specific colour circles. A number of pencil-shaped bollards will prevent illegal parking in the vicinity of the school.
The design features assist in creating a safer, calmer, more attractive environment at the school gate. Two School Zones have been trialled in Dublin City at St Francis CBS, Dublin 8 and The Central Model School, Dublin 1 and it is hoped that more schools across the country will be interested in a similar design scheme outside their schools.
We are working in partnership with Local Authorities nationwide as well as the National Transport Authority to improve access to school, improve walking and cycling infrastructure as well as to change our behaviour when it comes to the journey to school. If you are interested in finding out more please get in touch.
Jane Hackett is the National Manager of the Green-Schools Travel Programme, An Taisce. The Green-Schools Travel programme is funded by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and supported by the National Transport Authority. Stay up to date with information on Green-Schools at www.greenschoolsireland.org.
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But if things keep getting better, Sinn Fein won’t get elected :( :( :(
Even a SF supporter would refrain from a stupid childish post such as yours.
Funny though their support must be frightening to some, so much so that they set up fake accounts to troll sites such as this.
Ah sure they’ll still get in. It’s not all about the economy. We’re relying on Sinn Fein to solve the crises in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Typical SF Supporter – is so obviously a FAKE TROLL Account ?
Fear..really?
Well actually no it would make them more likely?
Until now the govts excuse for why their education heath and welfare plans are to ambitious is we can’t afford them.
If we recover that excuses gone
South west at this time of year is a tourism hot spot plenty of service jobs in hotels etc temporary but still a wage for however it lasts.
Mike they are usually seasonally adjusted. Recovery might flying but limerick has only seen a slight improvement at ground level, f all new jobs
Mile
Even in the boom it was the same but this shows the increased tourism numbers this year is paying off.
Employment is down because people are chasing the jobs in the pale and abroad!
Colm I was in Killarney last week on business the place was heaving with tourists someone has to serve them supply the produce etc.
None of my 3 student/adult kids could get summer hotel work this summer as every hotel is packed full of Interns!
Put the intern number into the unemployment rate and include College students as unemployed during the summer break and a totally different picture will emerge compared to previous years!
Internships have driven down wages and increased workloads on others!
I worked every summer from when I was 14 in the early 80′s during recession-it was easy to get summer jobs then!- this Govt are ruining the country and pushing thousands into poverty!
They can massage the figures, but they can’t hide from the truth as its felt on the ground!
Welcome to job-bridge. They have destroyed proper jobs. Alot of people think it is only for graduates but they are not. I’ve seen plenty of areas of work destroyed even for middle level work reduced to zero pay, job-bridge.
How much of this “fall” can be attributed to emigration?
All of it mate. There isn’t a job in the entire country. Employment rates are actually 93%. The only way to turn this ship around is to get Gerry and the gang into power.
Why the desperate hope that this is all down to emigration?
Why do you have to force yourself to ignore the facts, even just the anecdotal evidence.
How do you explain, VAT, income tax increases, no’s emplyed increases, increased sme trade, increased car sales, increased job adverts, increased revenue at recruitment firms and on and on and on.
There is no joy or benefit to you or anyone in pretending that it all black, all the time. Misery without end etc.
Don’t know which poster is worse ?! You’re fine,Seanie :)
Well seanie the desperate facts are
Between july 2012 – July 2014 approx 60k decrease in the Live register numbers.. Despite cars being sold, despite Vat increase, income tax increases.
I do believe the figures are 90k per year emigrate..
So i would love to know where your getting your figures for, as mine were taken from the governements own books. Im not believing the spin where as you may be ??
The rate is misleading, as usual. Actual unemployed is still between 13-14%. They choose not to tell us this
Seanie
They are in complete denial because SF know that a prosperous society wouldn’t dream of electing a populist socialist shower like SF. The better things get the worse it gets for them.
The irony is their doom and gloom front bench know this too, and hence the constant negativity.
More proof the economy is well on the way to recovery. The emigration brigade won’t be able to do the math that equates these stats with the increased tax take. They must think it comes from the SF money tree….
Yes, the economy is getting better, but does anybody really care when their wages and salaries are getting robbed?
No, but the scambridge brigade might be able to.
Reagan, why don’t we all just stay in bed eh?
By the way, who’s robbing you?
An increase of 850 on jobs bridge.
O’Reilly – I don’t know man. How about you try staying in bed for a few weeks and let me know how you feel after. You don’t know who is robbing you? Do you not look at your payslip?
Oh, you mean taxes. Right…
I see some builders was using scam bridge to get free labour ,One job was insulating buildings,Horrible working with the stuff and this guy would have you doing it every week for 50 quid while he coined the money in his pocket,and this is just one example,it’s happening wholesale.
That scam bridge is a joke try keeping a family and try to save on it,its just not possible the government don’t care as long as you are off the live register and the media giving the b shit statistics.
We should also tackle the problem of people being left on long term disability assistance without any help to gain employment.
Indeed.
Ireland has the statistical impossible 1-in-8 adults being disabled to the extent that work is impossible.
Its all in what they define as disability.
Alcoholism and depression are not disability’s they ought b treated a treatable temporary illness, for every form of them there is treatment available.
Get them diagnosed, get them treated and get them back to work. Nobody should linger for years on disability.
Besides how’s it going to help your depression or odds of relapse to addiction if you’re at home all day alone with nothing to do?
What is interesting is that Ireland is pulling away from the rest of Europe in terms of growth. We are heading towards the top of the league in that, by just returning to a normal day to day state of affairs.
Look at interest rates and bond yields in most of Europe they are the lowest in hundreds of years. No growth is now the norm in most of Europe.
The EU/ECB have killed growth in a continent, that is the story we should be looking at. In the future will we stay and go down with the ship or scramble away.
Séanie you ignore the damage that has been done to our society to get to this point.
My point is that the damage has been brutal but for most of Europe it is not going to change for years and years to come.
We are pointing up.
We at least are returning to growth and have a future. Countries like, Italy, France, Portugal etc are in long term decline.
@ Seanie: Much of that also has to do with the demographics in those countries. The Irish population is among the youngest in Europe.
Also much of the damage was done by national governments. Think of Bertie and co in the run up to 2008 as opposed to any European bodies.
Ryan – have you got stats on that? Someone was claiming the other day we had one of the oldests pops in Europe and that’s why we needed more foreigners to settle here.
Ryan. Pull the other one, it has bells on.
Socialism for the rich, Capitalism for the rest of us. Is this the damage your talking about Seanie.
@ Scarr/Seanie:
“Ireland, however, has the youngest population within the EU, here the median age amounts to 35 years. This information is based on Eurostat data from 2012 and has been released by the Federal Institute for Population Research (BiB).”
Scam bridge and internships are ruining this country. You gain absolutely nothing except experience in stacking shelves etc ?? For 50 euro a week!! Quite simply the worst government we ever had, scam bridge is having a huge effect on people getting decent jobs
My oh my. What will the Shinners do when those getting jobs realise how much Gerry and the boys will want from them in taxes.
Yes how dear politicians suggest workers pay taxes for the services the state provides.Does the present incumbents not already this? Why single out one particular party?
In future we need Employment rates not unemployment rates- between training courses/FAS courses and scambridge the figures are totally skewed!
We neex to know the ACTUAL % of those adults that are in FULL Time employment!
Most retailers now have part time staff that don’t have the same rights!
We need to strive for a High Full time Employment scenario-Don’t expect Logic from a Govt full of schoolteachers and a Dept of finance ran by Civil Servants with mere Bachelor of Arts degrees!
They are readily giveb but they show an increase in full time employment outside of all schemes etc so they won’t reinforce your béal bocht attitude and hope for continuing bad news.
O’Reilly – I don’t know man. How about you try staying in bed for a few weeks and let me know how you feel after. You don’t know who is robbing you? Do you not look at your payslip?
They’re called taxes, if you don’t wish to pay them emigrate to a country with no tax.
Do you not think taxes are way too high considering the lack of decent services?
Our present and pervious governments mismanaged the economy foisted an odious debt on our backs, of course taxes are too high but that’s what we are stuck with.You’ll either pay directly or indirectly but you will pay.Unless you find a country with no taxes and plenty of jobs you’re screwed just like everyone else.Btw if you find a tax free country let me know I might join you.
Mike
You are absolutely correct! Our Goverment is so “pervious ” that it must be made up of pervs. Well done!
Richard how’s the weather in Canada today @$$ hole.Nothing constructive to add only pointing out spelling and grammar errors what a sad creature you are.
Been to Gaza lately sorting out your neighbours issue with Usice Eireann?
Gateway and Jobbridge are Ireland’s DISGRACE.Slave labour and blatant exploitation of the worker.
‘Unemployment down’:why??? Because people are FORCED into low pay or no pay jobs.You will find work, oh yes,but you will not earn any wage.
Yeah cause they are forcing people out to work for a extra 20 euro aweek shame on them . Karma will strike
Funny then that the Limerick post reported the exact opposite to the Journal.ie claim.Maybe they have a bit more of a clue than a bunch of people in Dublin??
http://www.limerickpost.ie/2014/07/31/limerick-dole-queues-grow/
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