Gareth Scahill (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Following on from a Commencement matter my colleague, Senator Boyle, had this morning on school safety measures, I noted the Minister of State, Deputy Harkin, said in her response that there are currently no plans to reopen the safe routes to school scheme for new applicants. She also referred to the active travel measures that could be utilised by schools for safety measures. The safe routes to school scheme was designed specifically for those measures. The scheme opened and less than 25% of eligible applicants applied, but it closed while schools were still dealing with Covid-19 during a lockdown. I have heard people numerous times in the House over the past couple of weeks calling for safety measures at schools. I call for a debate with the Minister for Transport to discuss the safe routes to school scheme, getting it reopened and included in the next programme, and having something to put forward to the transport committee.