Cllr Adrian Henchy has welcomed news of a project to finally address the totally inadequate infrastructure for all road users but especially pedestrians on the approach to Scoil Padhraic Callini and St Patricks Boys National School, Portrane road from both the directions of Donabate and Portrane. He said, ”One of my first motions to Fingal County Council in May 2014, as a newly elected councillor on behalf of the Donabate Portrane Community was to request an assessment and improvement plan.While progress on this matter has been frustratingly very slow, I was very pleased to see final approval for this Part 8 planning application get the unanimous approval of all councillors at a recent meeting of the full council. I am very much aware of so many people over a long number of years who have been campaigning for major safety improvements outside of our 2 long established primary schools in Donabate. The current infrastructural network outside of both schools and a small business centre is totally inadequate given that both schools accommodate up to 800 primary school pupils. While the new pedestrian entrance through the Rahillon Housing development at the back of both schools has eased the pressure a little, there remains an urgent requirement to improve accessibility and safety at the front of both schools.The scheme which is expected to cost €600,000 approx. will see major footpath improvements from the entrance of Carrs Mill estate to the Hospital back gates, setting back of buildings along the Portrane road near the schools, introduction of raised tables , signalised crossing outside both schools, improved bus layby and a number of new gullies to improve surface water drainage.Once land acquisition has been completed a contractor is expected to be appointed in early 2021,with works expected to finally get underway summer 2021. To achieve best value for public money the contractor will be appointed to carry out both this project and the installation of a continuous footpath on Turvey Avenue which has previously been granted Part 8 approval. These infrastructural improvement works on both the Portrane Road and Turvey Avenue are expected to take a total of eight months to complete.”