John Clendennen
Question:33. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Transport if the safer routes to schools programme will be opened for new applications, if so, when; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34787/25]
View answerWednesday, 25 June 2025
Questions (33)
Written answers
The Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Programme was launched in March 2021 with the aim of supporting walking, scooting, and cycling to primary and post-primary schools, and creating safer walking and cycling routes within communities, through the provision of infrastructure interventions. This should help alleviate congestion at school gates and increase the number of students who walk or cycle to school.
Invitations to express interest were sent to all primary and secondary schools in the country, and 931 applications were received from schools across every county in Ireland. 170 schools were notified on 21st June 2021 that they were selected for inclusion in the first round of the SRTS Programme, a further 108 schools were announced for Round 2. Round 3 of the programme was announced in November 2024 which saw a further 141 schools enter the programme, including 67 schools located on high-speed rural routes. It should be noted that all schools that applied to the original call for applications were accepted into the programme, and if not selected in Rounds 1, 2 or 3 will be selected for forthcoming rounds.
Given the pipeline of projects due for completion, there are no plans for an additional call for schools to join the SRTS programme currently. Some schools outside the SRTS Programme are included in wider Active Travel projects if they are in the vicinity of these works. I would therefore recommend that any school not currently registered with the SRTS Programme to contact their local authority in relation to potential funding in this area.