Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 November 2020
202. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Transport the increase in funding for the additional personnel and resources needed in local authorities to drive the school streets initiative; the projected funding and projects per local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36300/20]
View answerThe Deputy can be assured that I am very much committed to increasing the number of children who use active travel modes when travelling to and from school.
School streets are one element of the much broader proposed Safe Routes to School Programme as committed to within the Programme for Government. In line that commitment, Minister of State Naughton and I are very keen to develop an overarching Safe Routes to School Programme. While various details have yet been finalised, I know that Minister of State Naughton met with the National Transport Authority recently in this regard and I look forward to working with stakeholders in the months ahead as we develop and roll-out the programme, including consideration of required local authority resources.
The Deputy is likely aware that there are a number of existing measures already available to support active travel in schools, such as An Taisce’s Green Schools Travel programme which promotes active travel and includes the provision of cycle parking, and the Cycle Right training programme which provides practical cycle safety and skills training to support more competent and confident cycling. Both Programmes are funded through my Department’s sustainable mobility investment programme.
Complementing those existing supports, this year’s July Stimulus fund enabled the more rapid roll-out of active travel infrastructure across the country and I know that a number of local authorities have sought to develop new infrastructure which supports active travel to/from schools in their areas.
