By Louise Doyle
MEASURES taken to slow traffic in Dunkineely in the wake of a near miss after a group of parents and children narrowly avoided being struck by a speeding truck outside the school are not enough.
The truck reportedly drove through five warning signs and narrowly missed colliding with pedestrians on the crossing outside Dunkineely National School.
The lorry hit the kerb leaving the pedestrians and the wider school community traumatised.
The incident was discussed at the latest meeting of Donegal Joint Policing Committee (JPC) earlier this month.
Fresh calls have been for urgent action to prevent a repeat incident.
Sinn Féin’s Donegal TD Deputy Pearse Doherty said a number of similar incidents have occurred at the same location in recent times.
“I believe urgent action needs to be taken to avoid a tragedy occurring in the future. I will be writing to the government to urge them to take action and provide assistance to the school as they seek solutions to this problem.”
Sinn Féin Councillor Noel Jordan said the N56 is a “very busy road” and that measures taken to slow traffic are “simply not working”.
“It’s a disgrace that parents are concerned to such an extent that they have resorted to standing out on the road to slow traffic.
“There is currently a temporary Go Safe Zone implemented by the Gardaí at the location. As much as this is welcomed, if this is to be a long-term measure, the Gardaí need to be provided with the resources to manage this.
“The school has made it clear to me that the only solution to this problem is to provide space for children to be dropped off on the same side of the road to the school. They have also outlined to me how this could be achieved.
“Whatever assistance can be offered to the school by the Council and by governmental departments to make this happen should be afforded to them. The safety of children must be prioritised.”
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