Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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34. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will list the number of active travel and Safe Routes to School projects completed by Mayo County Council in round 1 of the programme; the number of projects in round 1 that were listed in round 2; the reason for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10562/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to active travel infrastructure. The NTA along with the relevant local authorities, are responsible for the development and delivery of individual projects.

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 through infrastructure delivery.

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

931 applications were received from primary and secondary schools across every county in Ireland. 167 schools form Round 1 of the Programme with a further 108 schools having been selected for inclusion in Round 2. It should be noted that all schools that applied to the original call for applications were accepted into the programme, and if not selected in the first two rounds will be selected at a later stage without the need to reapply.

Seven schools in Mayo were selected for inclusion in Round 1, namely:

- Brackloon NS, Westport

- St Colman's College, Claremorris

- Cong NS

- Carn NS, Ballina

- Scoil Iosa, Ballina

- Davitt College, Castlebar

- Gaelscoil Raifteirí, Caislean an Bharraigh

As of end January 2023, the Carn NS, Cong NS and St. Colman's College projects were at preliminary design stage while the others were at the earlier options development stage. Six additional schools were selected for inclusion in Round 2 of the SRTS Programme, as follows:

- Ballinrobe Community School

- Claremorris BNS

- Holy Trinity NS, Westport

- Murrisk NS, Westport

- Quay NS, Ballina

- St. Joseph's PS, Ballinrobe

The SRTS team in the NTA and An Taisce will begin to engage with Round 2 schools early this year.