The long-awaited Safe Routes to School scheme at Scoil na bhForbacha in Furbo is moving into construction, marking a significant step towards improving road safety for pupils, staff, families and pedestrians using the R336.

The Irish Independent report confirms that construction is expected to begin in September, following the project's progression to the construction phase. The scheme was originally included in the second round of the national Safe Routes to School programme in 2022.

The project is being delivered by Galway County Council through the Safe Routes to School programme, which is funded through the National Transport Authority. The NTA's 2026 Active Travel Investment Grant allocations include €166,000 for the Scoil na bhForbacha project.

The works will introduce a raised signalised pedestrian crossing directly opposite the school, alongside a second signalised crossing near the Montessori facility and filling station. Additional school-zone signage, road markings and pencil bollards are also planned.

From a health and safety perspective, the development represents a practical investment in reducing risks around a busy school environment. The R336 is an important route through Furbo, with previous reporting highlighting significant traffic volumes and concerns around vehicle speeds.

The introduction of controlled pedestrian crossings is particularly significant because it provides designated points for children and other pedestrians to cross the road. Combined with improved signage and road markings, the measures are intended to create a more clearly defined and predictable environment around the school.

The scheme also supports active travel. Improved pedestrian infrastructure can make walking, cycling and scooting to school more accessible, helping reduce reliance on car journeys while creating safer conditions for children travelling independently.

The project has been shaped by substantial community engagement. Galway County Council's consultation process recorded strong participation around road safety, with the consultation dashboard showing 42 submissions specifically categorised under road safety.

That engagement forms part of a wider development process. Galway County Council previously identified Scoil na bhForbacha as one of five schools included in Round 2 of the Safe Routes to School programme, with stakeholder engagement and preliminary design work undertaken with the NTA.

The move into construction therefore represents more than the delivery of individual crossings. It demonstrates how sustained safety concerns can translate into targeted infrastructure investment when local authorities, transport bodies, schools and communities work through the planning and design process.

The scheme also provides a useful example of preventative risk management. Rather than responding only after an incident occurs, the investment focuses on improving the physical environment around a known point of interaction between pedestrians, school traffic and a busy public road.

For health and safety professionals, this approach reinforces the value of combining infrastructure, traffic management, stakeholder engagement and active-travel planning when addressing risks in environments used by children and other vulnerable road users.

The project is also expected to contribute to a more accessible daily journey for families. By creating clearer crossing points and improving the visibility of the school zone, the works can support safer movement around the school while encouraging healthier forms of travel.

For the sector, the lesson is clear: effective road safety depends on preventative measures that address risks before they result in harm. The progression of the Scoil na bhForbacha scheme into construction shows how targeted infrastructure, community engagement and active-travel planning can work together to create safer environments for children and the wider community.

Source: Irish Independent / Galway County Council / National Transport Authority / Galway Advertiser