John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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252. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport whether the funding will be provided in 2025 to include a further bundle of schools in the safe routes to school scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51331/25]

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. This 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 and An Taisce's Green Schools is co-ordinating the programme.

931 applications were received from schools across every county in Ireland. Schools are processed in tranches with three rounds having been announced to date. 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 opening three rounds will be selected for forthcoming rounds. Round 4 of the SRTS Programme is expected to be announced later this year.

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