John Brady
Question:191. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Transport the status of an application under the safer routes to school scheme by a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63873/22]
View answerWednesday, 18 January 2023
Questions (191)
Written answers
In March 2021, I launched the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Programme which will support Active Travel infrastructure for selected schools around the country. The programme aims to support walking, scooting and cycling to primary and post-primary schools and to create safer walking and cycling routes within communities. This will help alleviate congestion at school gates and increase the number of students who walk or cycle to school by providing the necessary infrastructure.
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 with a further 108 schools recently selected for Round 2. The Programme is funded by my Department through the National Transport Authority (NTA) and is supported by the Department of Education. An Taisce’s Green Schools team is coordinating the programme, while funding will be made available to local authorities who will play a key part in delivering the infrastructure along access routes and at the school gate.
I am aware that the school referred to in the Deputy's question has submitted an application under the Safe Routes to School Programme but was not selected for inclusion in either Round 1 or Round 2 of the programme. Given the nature of the programme, all 931 schools who applied will enter the programme on a rolling basis and there will be no requirement for those schools to reapply. Noting the role of the NTA in the matter, I have referred your question in relation to the status of this specific application to that agency for a more detailed answer. If you do not receive a reply within 10 working days please contact my private office.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51.
I am writing to you concerning the matters you raised in Parliamentary Question No. 191 on 18 January last, which have been referred to the National Transport Authority (NTA) for reply.
By way of background, the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Programme, which will support Active Travel infrastructure for selected schools around the country, was launched in March 2021. By the deadline of 16th April 2021, 931 applications were received from schools across every county in Ireland. Due to the overwhelming response, it was not possible to progress all schools simultaneously and a phased approach was developed.
170 schools were notified in June 2021 that they were selected for inclusion in the first round of the SRTS Programme. The schools selected were assessed against a range of criteria including school type, location and the school’s commitment to sustainable travel. 108 additional schools (forming Round 2) were brought into the active programme in December 2022, determined by original criteria and complementary with other active travel schemes being implemented or planned by local authorities.
Whilst Scoil Mhuire na n-Áird was not selected for inclusion in either Round 1 or Round 2 of the Safe Routes to School Programme, it will be included as part of a subsequent phase. All 931 schools that applied will enter the programme on a rolling basis and there will be no requirement for those schools to reapply.
Information on what schools can do to support active travel is contained in the NTA’s Toolkit for School Travel.