Traffic calming works completed at Athea National School have resulted in a significant reduction in speeding on approach to the village.
Traffic surveys conducted before and after the works show that the percentage of vehicles exceeding the 50 km/h speed limit fell from 63% to 37% overall. These early results indicate a strong positive trend towards safer conditions for pupils and the wider community.
The Safe Routes to School Programme, launched in 2021 by the Department of Transport and supported by the Department of Education, aims to make school journeys safer and more sustainable. To date, 13 schemes have been completed in Limerick, each designed in collaboration with the school and An Taisce Green School Programme to address local safety concerns and promote active travel. Athea National School was selected in Round 3 following concerns about speeding, congestion, and unsafe parking near the school gates. Local surveys and audits identified the need for interventions to protect children and encourage active travel.
In Athea, measures included chicanes and build-outs to calm traffic, a repositioned pedestrian crossing, upgraded bus and accessible parking bays, School Zone markings, pencil bollards, and a new footpath linking the graveyard boundary to existing paths.
While speed reduction is an encouraging first step, the Active Travel Team will return to Athea National School - and other schools where works have been completed - to conduct post-works perception surveys with pupils, parents and staff. The surveys will help identify wellbeing benefits and transport outcomes, and community feedback will be considered when planning future improvements. Follow-on survey results from four participating schools show significant improvements in safety and access at the front of each school. A strong majority of parents and students reported feeling safer and noticing fewer cars, and staff were almost unanimous in agreeing that conditions for walking and cycling have improved. Parents also reported health, fitness and confidence benefits for children.
The Safe Routes to School Programme continues to expand, with Round 4 schools announced by the Department of Transport. Six Limerick schools added to the programme for 2026 are Corpus Christi Primary School, St. Mary’s NS, Scoil Na Trocaire Doon, Ahane NS, St. Joseph’s BNS, Rathkeale and St. Michael’s Infant School.
Active Travel in Limerick City and County Council looks forward to working with these schools to deliver further schemes that prioritise safety, sustainability, and active travel.
Mayor of Limerick, John Moran, said:
"I welcome the continued roll-out of the really successful Safe Routes to School programme which is creating safer, more vibrant communities - giving our children a new independence earlier in life and sustainable travel habits that many will carry on with them into adulthood. With continued government support, we will keep investing in infrastructure that makes walking, wheeling, and cycling the natural choice for everyday journeys."
Priomh Chomhairleoir of Limerick City and County Council, Councillor Catherine Slattery, said:
"Parents across Limerick have long been raising concerns about safety at school gates. These schemes respond directly to those concerns, introducing safety improvements that make walking to school safer and more accessible. The reduction in speeding around the school in Athea is a great result."
Director of Services for Transportation and Mobility, Patricia Liddy, added:
"Thirteen Safe Routes to School projects have been delivered across Limerick, including traffic calming, improved crossings, and School Zone treatments. The next step is to measure the wider benefits through post-works surveys, ensuring that every scheme continues to meet the needs of pupils, parents and the residents."