Eight schools in Galway city and county have been selected for round 2 of the Safe Routes to School Programme which aims to create safer walking and cycling routes for students.
The schools in Galway included in the programme are Coláiste Iognáid; Gaelscoil Dara, Bóthar Bhaile an Locháin, An Rinn Mhór; Scoil Fhursa Nile Lodge Gaillimh; Ballinderreen NS; Gort Community School; Scoil na bhForbacha, An Spideal; Scoil Sailearna, Indreabhán; and St Brendan’s NS, Mount Pleasant Loughrea.
The Safe Routes to School Programme will alleviate congestion at the school gates and increase the number of students who walk or cycle to school by providing improvements to walking and cycling facilities.
Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Hildegarde Naughton TD, joined Santa Claus himself this morning to announce the 108 schools nationwide that will be included in the initiative.
Over 37,000 students benefit from safer infrastructure and encourage them to cycle, walk and wheel to school.
Hildegarde Naughton TD said she is delighted to be able to bring some festive cheer to schools nationwide by confirming that thousands of more children will soon benefit from safer infrastructure which will allow them to walk, cycle and scoot to school every day.
“In recent months I have had the privilege of visiting schools across the country and have seen first-hand the positive impact that Safe Routes to School projects are having on our children’s daily lives,” said the Galway West TD.
“During these visits the message was loud and clear that there is a huge appetite for the continued rollout of the Safe Routes to School Programme in our villages, towns, and cities across the country. Now, having secured the necessary funding as part of Budget 2023, it is great to see the programme continue to go from strength to strength.
“My ambition is that every child in Ireland will have the option to make their daily commute to the classroom by foot, bicycle or scooter in a way that they are safe and protected; one that I am confident is shared amongst children, their parents, teachers and the wider school community.”
The programme is funded by the Department of Transport through the National Transport Authority (NTA) and is supported by the Department of Education.
€20m has been allocated for projects included in Round 2 with the funds coming from each local authority’s annual allocation for Active Travel works.
