I call on Roscommon County Council to extend the Winter gritting programme, to include the approach roads to the rural schools that are not currently on this programme, and this would be to extend 500 metres in each direction from these schools. 

Although this may be expensive, it would be for a very short period when you take into account Christmas holidays etc.  This would greatly enhance the safety around our schools at peak times.

I call on Roscommon County Council to extend the Winter gritting programme, to include the approach roads to the rural schools that are not currently on this programme, and this would be to extend 500 metres in each direction from these schools.

Although this may be expensive, it would be for a very short period when you take into account Christmas holidays etc. This would greatly enhance the safety around our schools at peak times.

Members supported the motion and made the following points:

• The area around schools should be included in the Winter gritting programme as a priority to prevent the schools being closed due to frost.
• It was suggested that there would be five weeks of gritting required in December and January due to holidays.
• A question was asked regarding whether a private gritting company could be used to grit around the school areas where materials are supplied by the Local Authority.
• Churches and dangerous junctions should be included in the Winter gritting programme.
• It was suggested to look at alternative ideas such as providing salt to schools where caretakers could use it.
• An alternative idea was trialled by Galway County Council whereby salt bins and salt were provided to schools.
• There is no public transport systems in place for a number of rural schools so they rely on their own method of transport or walking to bring children to school.
• A proposal was made to write to Galway County Council to find out if the project was successful and cost effective, and potentially implement in Roscommon.

Director of Services, Greg O’Donnell responded to the points raised and made the following points:

• National and Regional roads are treated as priority.
• Potentially dangerous to grit a section of the road in front of schools as people would expect the entire road to be gritted.
• The Winter Service Plan is at capacity and it cannot be extended to cover all school areas.
• Approximately half of all schools are covered by the Winter Service Plan.
• The Department of Education is permitted to hire an independent company for schools.
• Roscommon County Council has a scheme whereby salt bins can be provided in a community setting to salt footpaths. The issue was referred to a sub-committee in relation to schools being included.

The Cathaoirleach, Cllr. Fitzmaurice queried the mechanism to get salt bins.

Director of Services, Greg O’Donnell confirmed that a request can be made to the local Area Office.

Cllr. Moylan requested to amend the motion be include writing to the Department of Education to seek funding for bins or apparatus for around National Schools to treat car parks and footpaths by staff. 

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr. Moylan

SECONDED by Cllr. Keogh

It was AGREED to write to Minster for Education to look at providing salt bins and salt to all schools in rural areas in County Roscommon.

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr. Kelly

SECONDED by Cllr. Scahill

It was AGREED to write to Galway County Council to understand the pilot that they ran on salt banks for schools.