Four more Louth schools to benefit from Safe Routes to School Programme

Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien TD, Minister of State Sean Canney TD and Minister of State Emer Higgins TD, along with the National Transport Authority (NTA), have announced the next round of schools to benefit from the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programme.

Four additional schools in Louth will now be brought into the SRTS programme to begin delivering safer environments for children as they walk, wheel or cycle to school. The Louth schools to benefit include Dromiskin Mixed School, Marymount NS, Scoil Mhuire na nGael and Tallanstown NS.

These 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. Tangible 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 closely 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, with 227 projects either completed, under construction or in the final design phase following public consultation.

Round 4 also includes schools located on higher-speed rural roads.  The 12 schools in this category will benefit from tailored measures such as prominent signage and road markings to alert motorists and encourage lower speeds. This follows successful trials in Galway, Roscommon and Donegal, which recorded speed reductions near the schools involved.

Minister for Transport Darragh 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, not only strengthens the safety of our students but also 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 Sean Canney said: “The way we move around our towns and cities needs to change and our reliance on private car use, particularly for our 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.”

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Minister of State Emer Higgins said: “The Government is committed to expanding our Active Travel and Greenway infrastructure network through the provision of walking and cycling facilities in our cities, towns, villages and rural areas. This commitment was demonstrated in the recent Budget, with €360 million allocated 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. This will encourage inclusive, safe and sustainable transport for young people of all abilities across the country.”

Anne Shaw, Chief Executive Officer for the 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 actively taking part, this 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.”