Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Over €15 million has been allocated to 170 schools around the country under the Safe Routes to School programme. This funding was a commitment under the programme for Government. This is going to have an impact on the lives of thousands of students across the country. We know how dangerous it can be in rural areas where we do not really have that many footpaths so it is really difficult for children to walk or cycle to school. We have many issues with safe parking around schools and much congestion. It is really important parents can pick up and drop off kids in a safe way and that it is not dangerous when one is leaving one's kids off at school. As such, it is really great to see this funding coming through.

I thank the teaching staff, principals, secretaries, boards of management and parents' associations for getting these applications in even though it has been such a crazy year for them. It is in conjunction with An Taisce, Green Schools and the Department of Transport. It was announced today by the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, and the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, who has delegated responsibility for this programme under the Department of Transport. With over 930 applications from schools across the county, it just shows there is urgent need for funding. It was so competitive only 170 have been funded in this round. For schools which were not funded this time, there will be future rounds of funding under this programme for those which have applied.

In County Roscommon, we had five schools which were successful in this competitive round one. I was delighted to see the impressive new Coláiste Chiaráin in Summerhill, Athlone funded. This brand new school which opened in 2017 is an amalgamation of St. Joseph’s College, a girls' school, and St. Aloysius College, a boys' school. I have a bit of a grá for the area as I worked for a really short while as a substitute teacher in St. Aloysius College. I am absolutely delighted to see funding for this area coming through. It is going to be for over 700 students because the primary school was funded as well. It is just up the road from the secondary school. Is that not really co-ordinated, integrated planning? I congratulate Scoil Náisiúnta Pol Naofa in Castlerea, Carrick National School in Ballinlough and Croghan National School, all of which were successful in this round.More than 1,350 students and children in County Roscommon will benefit from safer travel to schools. It is a safe way to pick up children from school. It is a fun, active and healthy way to get to school. It is a great day of learning.

I want to wish Members a happy Pride. The flags are flying high on the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment across the road. That is really good for this week.