COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

QUESTION NO. 2

QUESTION: Councillor C. Keane

"To ask the Manager to agree to the reinstatement of the lollipop lady on Knocklyon Road?"

REPLY:

Prior to the commencement of each School Year a full review of the School Warden Service is carried out. Some changes are made each year to reflect the number of School Wardens, the priorites that have been set including budgetary considerations and generally to reflect the changes in travel patterns of the school going population. Two School Wardens had previously operated on the Knocklyon Road, one adjacent to Dargle Wood and one at Coolamber. It was noted that there had been a reduction in the number of children using the service to cross the road at both locations during the previous school year. Only 7or 8 children on average used the service at each crossing time. This level of usage is not sustainable.

Prior to the final implementation of the revised proposals, parents and school authorities were requested to make their views known. They stated that they felt it was unfair that one crossing location had pedestrian lights while the second location which was a more difficult location for crossing could potentially be left unsupervised. Having regard to these views it was considered appropriate to re-locate the warden from Dargle Wood, as this crossing had a signalised facility and to redeploy the School warden to  Coolamber for a trial period of four weeks. It was also agreed to monitor the numbers to ensure that the provision of the service was sustainable. From an anlysis of the trial period, so far, it would appear that the School Warden Service is required for the present at Coolamber.

The matter is being kept under review.