Safe Routes to School continue to benefit Waterford communities

Minister of State for Planning & Local Government, John Cummins TD today (Friday March 20^th) attended the official launch of a series of landmark Safe Routes to School projects across County Waterford – which will provide safe, sustainable and healthy transport options to school communities in Butlerstown and Kilmacthomas.

A series of engagements began at Scoil Mhuire National School in Butlerstown. As part of the Safe Routes to School Programme, €300,000 was provided by Government in 2025 to allow Waterford City & County Council to progress a traffic calming scheme at the school. The funding also catered for the upgrade of an existing pedestrian crossing, widening of footpaths and improved pedestrian access to the school car park.

The next stop was at Kilmacthomas Primary School, which also availed of €300,000 in funding under the 2025 allocation for a traffic calming scheme, footpath widening, parking realignment and the establishment of a new pedestrian crossing on the junction between R677 and L3306.

An official launch event was then held at the Kilmacthomas Community Centre, Rainbow Hall.

Addressing the launch, Minister Cummins said: “Today is more than just an event to mark the completion of physical works carried out both in Butlerstown and in Kilmacthomas, it’s about acknowledging how these projects will positively impact both communities for years to come and I got a sense of that from meeting the pupils and staff at both schools who kindly gave me a tour and explained how the projects were already changing behaviours.

“As a former PE teacher, I know full well the importance of exercise for young people and anything that makes it easier for children to get out and about and active in a safe and sustainable manner is certainly something to be welcomed. But projects like this don’t happen by accident, it takes buy in, and I’d like to take this opportunity to commend both Scoil Mhuire Butlerstown and Kilmacthomas Primary School, Principals Maria O’Connor and Tim Ryan and the whole school community who ran with these projects for the betterment of their pupils.”

“I’d like to commend the Active Travel team at Waterford City & County Council for their hard work delivering these vital infrastructure projects, the staff at both Scoil Mhuire Butlerstownand Kilmacthomas Primary School for their commitment and engagement, and all involved in providing vital infrastructure that will benefit both communities greatly in the years ahead. In my role as Minister for Planning & Local Government, I will continue to support initiatives such as these and work closely with stakeholders to help deliver projects that have sustained meaningful impact. I look forward to the continued delivery of new and expanded Safe Routes to School projects across the county in future.”