Parents of 400 students at Castleblayney College in Co Monaghan are to renew their efforts to end the situation where children have to cross a busy motorway as they move between classes.The college is split by the N2 Dublin/Derry Road.
Traffic lights were provided some years ago but parents say the hazards are increasing daily because of growing traffic on the route.
The college board and local parents' committee have expressed disappointment that funding was not provided by the Minister for Education, Mr Dempsey, in the 2004 School Building Programme for a new extension to be built at the college. This would have enabled all the classroom facilities to be provided on one side of the road.
According to Mr Gary Carville, school board spokesman and a local councillor, the school was split by the motorway several years ago when the only available site for a much needed extension was on the other side of the road.
"But traffic was a lot lighter then and it didn't pose a serious hazard for the students," he said yesterday.
"However, in recent times, it's a death-trap situation and to ensure extra safety, teachers have to escort students on the crossing. Plans were drawn up over two years ago and a site acquired for a major new extension which would retain the college on one side of the N2 motorway, but no funds were made available to enable the building to go ahead last year and we are now again shocked to discover the Minister has still not included the project in the funding he has provided for schools in 2004.
"The Department had already approved design plans for the extension and it's disgraceful the Minister seems to have turned a blind eye while we are still left waiting with this death-trap situation for another year."
Mr Carville said the parents committee feels that the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, has a certain amount of responsibility in the issue.
"How his Department can also turn a blind eye to a situation in which children have to tolerate a motorway between their classrooms requires explanation. Surely the Minister must realise the necessity to end such a scenario in the interests of student safety?"