Comment: Traffic wardens provide an essential service

Fianna Fail Cllr Wayne Harding recently emphasised the importance of a school traffic warden at Slane National School after being recently left without cover.

It's not the first time the issue of the crossing guard, those responsible adults in bright white coat and 'lollipop' who protect our children navigating dangerous school roads and junctions has some before this newspaper in recent months.

The need for a school traffic warden to be retained at Dangan NS was discussed at the January meeting of Trim Municipal District councillors, following the retirement of the previous warden.

Harding raised the issue regarding the lack of cover to facilitate a leave of absence for the school warden at May's Laytown/Bettystown Municipal District Meeting.

The Slane councillor described a terrifying near miss involving a student when a traffic warden was not present.

"There was one particular morning where a child ended up on the road unsupervised, it was got away with without incident with but purely by chance," said Harding.

"This was totally unacceptable given the dangers that exist on the N2 outside the school on a daily basis," he added.

A submission by the school on road safety issues was central to the Slane Bypass application according to the local councillor who said:

"The principal and board of management were left to address the safety issues that arose following no cover being provided for an absence recently.

"During the ongoing planning process for the Slane Bypass Slane National School made a very powerful submission in support of the bypass of Slane village due to their very real concerns around the children's safety while entering and leaving the school.

"Meath County Council are joint applicants with Transport Infrastructure Ireland for the Slane Bypass and considering the support the council received from the school for the application, it was a real slap in the face to be left without cover.

"I am glad that the council have acknowledged my concerns and committed to ongoing cover."

Returning to Dangan NS, Cllr Aisling Dempsey said she understood retirements happen and that it may not be possible to replace them straight away but that a commitment had previously been given that no changes would be made without proper consultation. She added that a traffic warden there was something she felt will is be hard fought for.

Cllr Trevor Golden recalled raising the matter at the budget meeting for Trim MD, when he said that the warden had to be replaced and the service had to be there. “Whatever provision is needed we need to do. I was given assurances by management that the warden would be replaced and that is why I am very worried and concerned here now."

Given the appalling statistics on road deaths for 2024 where 80 people have lost their lives less than six months into the year, every effort to mitigate against disaster must be made. There can be no excuse for leaving schools, situated on busy roads and that require the presence of a traffic warden, without that cover.