Malcolm Byrne
Question:258. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Transport the measures under active travel which will be considered for the village of Boolavogue, County Wexford, particularly to enhance school safety. [52906/25]
View answerThursday, 2 October 2025
Questions (258)
Written answers
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to Active Travel. Funding is administered through the National Transport Authority (NTA), who, in partnership with local authorities, have responsibility for the selection and development of specific projects in each local authority area.
Noting the role of the NTA in the matter, I have referred your question in relation to wider Active Travel measures in Boolavogue to that agency for a more detailed answer. If you do not receive a reply within 10 working days, please contact my private office.
In relation to school safety specifically, the Safe Routes To School Programme was launched by my Department 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, with improvements to the school commute ranging from an upgraded footpath or new cycle lane to a complete reworking of a school’s entrance.
931 applications were received from schools across every county in Ireland. The nature of the SRTS programme is that all schools who initially applied will eventually enter the programme on a rolling basis and there will be no need to reapply. Schools are processed in tranches – there have been three rounds to date.
It is my understanding that Boolavogue NS did not apply to the SRTS programme. Given the pipeline of projects due for completion, there are no plans for an additional call for schools to join the SRTS programme currently. It should however be noted that because a school is not currently in the SRTS Programme, it does not mean that it will not receive any new or improved Active Travel infrastructure.
In some cases, 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.
My Department also provides grant assistance to local authorities under the Regional and Local Road Grant Programme for a number of targeted programmes, including the Safety Improvement Programme. Applications are sought each year from local authorities under this programme for consideration for funding in the subsequent year.