Galway City Council is progressing targeted front-of-school solutions, in consultation with the school community. The focus is on developing ‘School Zones’ or ‘School Streets’, supplemented with other support measures. 

The proposed commission is envisaged to follow the National Transport Authorities Project Approval Guidelines and Cost Management Guidelines for Band 1 (projects less than €500,000).

Front of school congestion is a chronic problem across Ireland in both rural, urban and suburban settings. Negative impacts of car dependence and front of school car congestion.

In 2020, this issue was exacerbated by the COVID 19 pandemic – with a reduction in capacity on public transport services and the requirement for space for social distancing on footpaths and avoiding congregation of people at school gates. Recently 200 school principals responded to national survey, identifying vehicle parking and vehicle drop off congestion as the number one challenge for social distancing at the front of their school.

In response to social distancing requirements since the COVID-19 pandemic, Local Authorities across Ireland have been implementing increased pedestrian space allocations. The National Transport Authority (NTA) have offered to fund Local Authorities for COVID-19 related works.

On 1st July 2020, the Health Service Executive (HSE) released ‘Interim Recommendations’ for the reopening of schools including physical distancing outside of the classroom and within the school.