Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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18. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider examining a joint scheme with the Minister for Transport for safety works outside of schools, to make them safe, to lessen the over-reliance on the local authorities in this regard and to be more proactive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5539/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department liaises closely with the Department of Transport and Local Authorities to support opportunities for active travel to schools. The siting of schools and the provision of the enabling public infrastructure for the development of school buildings is a matter for Local Authorities in consultation with my Department.

The priority for my Department’s available capital funding is the provision of required additional school capacity, particularly for children with special education needs. The school estate additionally has capital funding requirements to facilitate required maintenance and modernisation, as well as decarbonisation to meet Climate Action targets.

The issue of road safety measures outside the vested site areas of schools on public roads, such as road crossings, road signage, traffic calming measures and such other issues is also a matter for the relevant Local Authority. Local Authorities have the power to decide on road safety measures outside schools in common with other public amenities and to ensure that measures are in place to protect the safety of local children. My Department has no statutory function in this matter.

The Deputy may be aware that the then Minister for Transport launched the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Programme 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.

However, school safety is a key issue and my Department ensures that safety is built into the design of all new building projects. For example, in conjunction with project design teams, my Department will review existing traffic management and safety at school grounds as part of the architectural stage progression of all school capital projects including as part of planning applications. This would involve discussions with the relevant county council and works may be included as part of a condition of planning.

Many of the road safety measures at schools provide for the reduction in car dependence and the move towards sustainable modes of transport. This is a much wider programme linking residential areas to schools as part of Active Travel measures. School building guidelines and standards prioritise sustainable modes of transport including cycling and walking. This Department supports sustainable transport initiatives such as the Green-Schools and Safe Routes to School Programmes and will continue to work with Local Authorities, the Department of Transport, and other relevant bodies to improve the accessibility to existing and future school sites.