Aisling Dempsey
Question:65. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Transport if he will re-open the Safe Routes to School Programme for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15463/26]
View answerWednesday, 25 February 2026
Questions (65)
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 including, in some cases, School Zones.
These projects should help alleviate congestion at school gates and increase the number of students who walk or cycle to school. The Safe Routes to School Programme is funded by my Department through the National Transport Authority (NTA) and An Taisce's Green Schools is co-ordinating the programme.
Invitations to express interest were sent to all primary and secondary schools in the country, and 932 applications were received from schools across every county in Ireland. Schools are processed in tranches, with four rounds having been announced to date. Over 500 schools are either active in the programme or have had projects completed. 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 the rounds to date will be selected in forthcoming rounds.
Given the pipeline of projects due for completion and the number of remaining schools waiting to enter the programme, there are currently no plans for an additional call for schools to join the SRTS programme. It should however be noted that funding for Active Travel infrastructure for schools is not confined to the Safe Routes to Schools Programme alone. In some cases, schools outside the SRTS Programme are included in wider Active Travel projects if they are in the vicinity of these works.