Road Safety

Tuesday, 3 October 2023

Questions (203, 204, 205)

Thomas Gould

Question:

203. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport to consider Blarney for a ‘safe routes to schools’ study. [42481/23]

View answer

204. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport the process under which a road for which ownership is unclear but acts as a public access route to a school and needs road safety measures. [42482/23]

View answer

Thomas Gould

Question:

205. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport whether he is aware of issues with road safety and school drop-off on a road in Blarney, known as Hedge Road, for which no clear ownership can be found. [42483/23]

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Written answers

Minister for Transport

I propose to take Questions Nos. 203, 204 and 205 together.

In March 2021, I launched the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Programme as a response to the need to improve safety at the ‘front of school’ environment and enhance access to school grounds. 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.

The Programme is funded by my Department through the National Transport Authority (NTA). An Taisce’s Green-Schools is coordinating the programme and 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.

Over 900 schools applied for the Safe Routes to School Programme following its launch, with around 275 actively engaged as part of its first two Rounds. Due to the number of applications received, there are no plans to reopen the Programme for additional applications at this time. Local authorities should ensure that they engage with the NTA directly in relation to any potential active travel infrastructure projects outside the SRTS, including those adjacent to schools, to ensure that they are considered for inclusion in the annual Active Travel Programme allocations.

In terms of the Deputy's specific query in relation to Hedge Road, the maintenance and improvement of roads not taken in charge by local authorities is the responsibility of the relevant landowners.

For roads for which no clear ownership can be found, the Local Government Act 2001 provides the statutory basis for the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS). Under that scheme, funding can be provided to local authorities for the construction and improvement of non-public roads (that is roads not taken in charge by local authorities) which meet the criteria set out in the Act.

In September 2017, the Minister for Rural and Community development reintroduced dedicated funding for the LIS and is continuing to fund the scheme.

Question No. 204 answered with Question No. 203.

Question No. 205 answered with Question No. 203.