Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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151. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the safe routes to school project will re-open later this year for new applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6850/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Programme was launched in March 2021 with the aim of supporting walking, scooting, and cycling to primary and post-primary schools, and creating safer walking and cycling routes within communities, through the provision of infrastructure interventions including, in some cases, School Zones.

These projects should help alleviate congestion at school gates and increase the number of students who walk or cycle to school. The Safe Routes to School Programme is funded by my Department through the National Transport Authority (NTA) and An Taisce's Green Schools is co-ordinating the programme.

Invitations to express interest were sent to all primary and secondary schools in the country, and 931 applications were received from schools across every county in Ireland. 167 schools form Round 1 of the SRTS Programme while a further 108 schools were announced for Round 2 in December 2022. Round 3 of the SRTS Programme was launched in November 2024. 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 Rounds to date will be selected for forthcoming rounds.

Given the pipeline of projects due for completion, there are no plans for an additional call for schools to join the SRTS programme currently.