Safe Routes to School - Pope John Paul II NS, Malahide, Co. Dublin

To implement improvements which will encourage walking and cycling in the area of Pope John Paul II National School, Malahide, Co. Dublin, Fingal County Council has completed a Safe Routes to School Programme (SRTS). This was officially launched by Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Brian McDonagh and Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications and Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien TD in May 2025.

What is the ‘Safe Routes to School (SRTS)’ Programme?

Safe Routes to School is a national programme delivered by Fingal County Council on behalf of An Taisce and Green Schools. Pope John Paul II NS applied, and successfully qualified for Round 1 of the programme being rolled out to encourage children and their guardians to walk or cycle to school.

Aims of the SRTS Programme

Improve safety at the school gate by providing ‘front of school’ treatments to alleviate congestion and improve access
Improve access routes to school by improving walking and cycling infrastructure
Increase the number of students who cycle to school by expanding the amount of cycle parking.

Works carried out at Pope John Paul II in Malahide

Safe Routes to School designs are unique to each participating school. At Pope John Paul II NS we have provided the following:

Creation of a car-free School Street each morning and afternoon.
Tightened junctions at Inbhir Íde with Caves Strand, Sea Road. Tightened junctions slow down approaching traffic and make crossing the road quicker and safer.
Resurfaced footpath on Caves Strand adjacent to junction.
Build a short ramp to enable cycling access to Inbhir Íde Drive.
Extended footpath around the green area in Inbhir Íde, with flexible bollards protecting the path.
Added school zone signs and coloured road surfacing at Inbhir Íde Drive.
Tightened junction at Inbhir Íde Close with Inbhir Íde Drive, and tightened junction at Sonesta.
Extended footpath from the corner of Inbhir Íde Close to the school along Inbhir Íde Drive.
Tightened junction at Árd na Mara with Yellow Walls Road.
Upgraded zebra crossing at Caves Marsh.
Signage to formalise the one-way system already in place during school drop off and pick up times.
A series of other minor changes to signage, junctions and crossings to support the Safe Routes to School scheme.