Three local schools among 105 to receive safe routes funding

Three local schools are among the 105 that are to benefit from round four of the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Programme.

Coralstown NS, St Michael’s NS, Castletown Geoghegan and St Patrick’s NS, Ballinagore will receive new safety measures to make walking, wheeling and cycling easier for the schoolchildren

The announcement was made this morning by Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien, TD, Minister of State Sean Canney, TD, and Minister of State Emer Higgins, TD, with the National Transport Authority (NTA).

The improvements include school zone features such as pencil shaped bollards, colourful road markings, upgraded footpaths, and enhanced pedestrian crossings, designed to slow traffic and make walking and cycling safer for students.

The programme aims include improving safety and public health while reducing car congestion and supporting climate goals.

Since its launch in 2021, the SRTS programme has grown significantly with 526 schools now actively incorporated into the programme and around €50 million invested in projects to date across Ireland.

Progress has been made in every city and county in the country, giving more families the option to choose active travel for at least part of the school journey.

The SRTS programme is funded by the Department of Transport through the NTA. The Education and Community Action Team at An Taisce is co-ordinating the programme.

The programme works with school communities, parents and local authorities to ensure that proposed measures reflect local needs and gain broad support through community engagement.

Almost half of participating schools have reached an advanced stage, and 227 projects are either completed, under construction or in the final design phase following public consultation.

Round four also includes schools located on higher-speed rural roads. The 12 schools in that category will benefit from tailored measures such as prominent signage and road markings to alert motorists and encourage lower speeds. That follows successful trials in Galway, Roscommon and Donegal, which recorded speed reductions near the schools involved.

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Minister O’Brien said: “I am delighted to see the Safe Routes to School Programme continuing to advance at pace. This nationwide investment in walking and cycling infrastructure, estimated at around €15-20 million for 2026, strengthens the safety of students and encourages lifelong habits of sustainable travel. The benefits – better health, safer journeys, lower emissions, and reduced congestion – are already evident in schools where improvements have been delivered. The annual report we launched earlier this year shows the transformative effect it has had: a 102% increase in park and stride; a 36% increase in cycling, a 6% increase in walking and a 17% decrease in car use. I look forward to seeing the next 105 schools progress through the programme and experience these positive outcomes.”

Minister of State Canney added: “The way we move around our towns and cities needs to change and our reliance on private car use, particularly for shorter journeys, must decrease. At its core, this programme is about making school environments safer by reducing traffic speeds and improving how children interact with the road. The default choice of many is to travel to work or school by car, but with the provision of infrastructure through the Safe Routes to School Programme, walking, wheeling and cycling should become a viable option for much of the school community and will give people the option to leave the car at home.”

Minister of State Higgins said: “The government are committed to expanding the Active Travel and greenway infrastructure network through the provision of walking and cycling facilities in cities, towns, villages and rural areas. This commitment was demonstrated in the recent budget, which allocated €360 million for Active Travel and greenways in 2026. I welcome the announcement of the latest round of schools for inclusion in the Safe Routes to School Programme, which has committed to including at least one special school in all forthcoming rounds of the programme under the recent National Human Strategy for Disabled People. That will encourage inclusive, safe and sustainable transport for young people of all abilities across the country.”

Anne Shaw, chief executive officer, NTA, said: “The schools where we have already put safety measures in place are reporting a significant increase in the number of children walking or cycling to school. With the announcement of a further 105 schools, that trend is set to grow. Establishing healthier travel habits at a younger age will, for many, continue into adulthood and the NTA is delighted to be supporting this initiative as it goes from strength to strength.”