An initiative of the Department of Transport, the SRTS programme is coordinated by the SRTS Team, which is part of the Environmental Education Unit at An Taisce, in partnership with the National Transport Authority (NTA) and the local authorities.

Ultimately, Ashbourne Community School wished to create a safer environment for students, leading to the project being selected by An Taisce for the Round 1 programme in County Meath with funding provide by the NTA and Meath County Council. 

The project, designed by consultant engineers Jacobs Engineering Ireland Ltd and delivered by Davis Civil Contractors Ltd., saw the improvement and widening of the footpath connecting the school to Milltown Road with new public lighting installed. This link is a key non-traffic route to the school and is also on the existing Ashbourne Slí na Slainte route.  

New and wider paths, additional bike parking as well as a safer pedestrian crossing was also provided at the front of the school.  The new infrastructure presents an immediately identifiable and colourful friendly school zone, creating a safer, calmer and more attractive school gate environment. 

Cathaoirleach of Ashbourne MD, Cllr. Connor Tormey welcomed the implementation of the scheme, saying: “It is great to see the safety improvements at Ashbourne Community School which have been carried out as part of the Safe Routes to Schools program. I would like to thank all motorists for their patience while adjusting to the changes and we look forward to the construction of more school zones across the Municipal District and the county.”

Chief Executive of Meath County Council Kieran Kehoe said, “Meath County Council is pleased to have facilitated this project, which makes an important intervention in the daily school commute for our youngest citizens by providing a safer journey from home to the school gate and then back home again. With a safer front of school, active travel is now both facilitated and encouraged.”