Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien, together with Ministers of State Seán Canney and Jerry Buttimer and the National Transport Authority (NTA), today announced the latest round of schools to join the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Programme.
Round 5 will bring a further 83 schools into the Programme, with schools from every county in Ireland represented. This will bring the total number of participating schools to 609, meaning almost two-thirds of the 932 schools that originally applied are now being actively supported in creating safer and more attractive conditions for children and families walking, wheeling and cycling to school.
In Co Clare, the two schools that will benefit from the most recent round of funding are Scariff Community College and Scoil Mhuire Náisiúnta.
Since its launch in 2021, the Safe Routes to School Programme has grown into one of Ireland’s most ambitious active travel initiatives. The remaining schools that applied to join the Programme will continue to be brought forward through future rounds, as the pipeline of projects progresses nationwide.
The Programme is funded by the Department of Transport through the NTA’s Active and Sustainable Transport Investment Programme and is coordinated by the Safe Routes to School Team at An Taisce. Working in partnership with all 31 local authorities, schools and local communities, the Programme aims to make journeys to school safer, more attractive and more accessible for children across Ireland.
Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien, said: “I am delighted to officially launch the next round of the Safe Routes to School Programme. The inclusion of a further 83 schools in Round 5 means that over 600 schools are now actively participating in the Programme. Safe Routes to School is delivering real benefits for communities by enabling more children to walk, wheel and cycle to school safely, reducing traffic congestion and helping to create healthier, more sustainable communities for future generations.
Interventions under the Safe Routes to School Programme are already having an impact with the most recent census showing the first increase in children walking to school in a generation. I look forward to building on this momentum as the Programme continues to grow and support safer, more active journeys to more schools across Ireland.”
Minister of State with responsibility for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports, Seán Canney said: “The key to encouraging more children to walk, wheel and cycle to school is ensuring that they can do so safely. The Safe Routes to School Programme has already delivered physical improvements like cycle paths, permeability links and School Streets to almost 200 schools, helping to create safer and more attractive routes for children and their families. I look forward to seeing the projects at the 83 additional schools announced today come to fruition in the years ahead.”
Minister of State with responsibility for Rural Transport Jerry Buttimer said: “It is wonderful to see that Safe Routes to School projects have been completed at almost 200 schools to date. It is heartening to see the enthusiasm for delivery from students, parents, teachers and the wider community alike who recognise the importance of keeping our schoolchildren safe, healthy and active in their day-to-day journeys. I would like to take this opportunity to recognise the efforts of the SRTS teams in the NTA and An Taisce as well as the Local Authority Active Travel teams in continuously rolling out these projects nationwide.”
Anne Shaw, CEO, National Transport Authority, said: “The continued expansion of the Safe Routes to School Programme is helping to transform the daily journey to school for children, families and communities across Ireland. By creating safer, more accessible and more welcoming streets around schools, we are making it easier for children to walk, wheel and cycle while giving parents greater confidence in how their children travel. The positive changes we are seeing go far beyond the school gate, helping to build healthier habits, reduce traffic congestion and create stronger, more connected communities. With over 600 schools now participating, the programme is making a meaningful difference in towns, villages and cities nationwide, and we look forward to supporting even more school communities in the years ahead.”
Thomas Connell, Program Manager, Safe Routes to Schools, said: “The strength of the Safe Routes to School Programme relies on direct collaboration between An Taisce, the National Transport Authority, local authorities, and participating schools nationwide. As we welcome a new group of schools into Round 5, we continue working alongside those currently progressing through delivery phases and celebrate the schools that have already completed their journey with us. Together with our delivery partners, we remain focused on supporting every participating school to make active travel a safe and practical daily choice.”
The Safe Routes to School Programme has benefited from continued Government investment through the NTA’s Active and Sustainable Transport Investment Programme, which is supported under the National Development Plan. More than €50 million has been invested in Safe Routes to School between 2021 and 2025, with an additional €24 million allocated in 2026 with ongoing funding commitments supporting the expansion of the Programme to additional schools.
These improvements include the distinctive Irish Safe Routes to School design approach, featuring pencil-shaped bollards, colourful road markings, upgraded footpaths and improved pedestrian crossings. This nationally recognised design palette helps create safer, more child-friendly environments around schools.
Round 5 also includes 9 schools located on higher-speed rural roads. These schools will benefit from equally distinctive Safe Routes to School measures specially tailored for those environments, including prominent signage and road markings that alert drivers to the presence of a school and encourage lower speeds.
The Programme is showing real results on the ground. Surveys collected from schools where infrastructure interventions have been completed, representing almost 1,700 students across Ireland, shows cycling to school has increased by almost 49%, walking has increased by 8%, while car use has fallen by more than 10%. Scooting has increased by 17.5%, and public transport use has increased by almost 16%.
Programme Delivery to date:
- 189 school zones completed
- 42 projects under construction
- 83 at preconstruction design stage
- 19 at public consultation
- 110 at preliminary design
- 81 at options development, following completion of school surveys
In addition to infrastructure improvements such as School Zones, School Streets, traffic calming measures and enhanced crossing facilities, the Programme has delivered extensive support for cycling and scooting. Since 2021, 665 schools who applied to the Programme have received cycle parking.
The latest schools joining the Programme will now begin working with local authorities and Safe Routes to School Infrastructure Officers to identify measures suited to their local circumstances, helping to create safer and more welcoming environments for students, staff and families.