Donegal Town councillor urges funding for stalled school safety scheme

Independent Donegal Town councillor Jimmy Brogan has called for answers after another incident at the traffic lights outside Scoil Aodh Rua agus Nuala highlighted delays to the Active Travel safety scheme.

Although no one was injured in the latest event, the crossing on the busy R267 has long been a concern, with reports of speeding, motorists ignoring signals and dangerous conditions for children. In May 2024 a child was hospitalised after being struck by a car on Upper Main Street near the school.

Safe Routes to School improvements were approved in May 2025, but almost 18 months later the project remains stalled pending the release of funding from the National Transport Authority.

Brogan said he contacted senior roads officials at Donegal County Council on Thursday and was told that “everything is in place for the work to start, except the money”. The proposed scheme would widen footpaths, upgrade pedestrian crossings and add traffic‑calming measures along the R267, narrowing the road from near the Donegal Community Hospital towards St Patricks Church.

The councillor has also submitted a Parliamentary Question to the Minister and expects a response next week, urging the department to allocate the necessary funds promptly.

Source: Donegal Daily. Photo: Jan van der Wolf / Pexels.