COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN, NEWCASTLE, RATHCOOLE, SAGGART AND BRITTAS AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, September 20, 2023

QUESTION NO.8

QUESTION: Councillor E. Ó Broin

To ask the Chief Executive if the Active Travel School Programme for Clondalkin will continue with Scoil Talbot which was the second choice agreed by members after Gaelscoil Chluain Dolcáin?

REPLY:

The National Transport Authority (NTA) provides annual funding to SDCC for the provision of active travel projects including a national programme incorporating schools. The priority for the NTA funding is on that programme, known as the Safe Routes to School Programme (SRTS). Some details of that Programme can be found at this link; Safe Routes to School - Green-Schools (greenschoolsireland.org)

The SRTS Programme was launched in March 2021 and was open to all schools in Ireland to apply for active travel projects to be funded and delivered. A total of over 930 schools in Ireland applied for it, including 25 schools in the SDCC area. The NTA funding that we receive for measures relating to schools, will be prioritised on delivering the SRTS programme for those schools on an iterative basis. Scoil Talbot did not apply for the initial call for inclusion on the SRTS programme, I anticipate that a further call will be issued in 2024 by An Taisce Green Schools, who manage the SRTS programme.

Additionally, where a Cycle South Dublin (CySD) route is being developed, the SDCC Project Manager and design team ensure that schools along and close to that route are identified and included for SRTS type measures. There are no current CySD routes planned close to Scoil Talbot.

The Active Travel team also work closely with the Road Maintenance section who are delivering a programme of village and district centre enhancement projects. Phase 1 of the district centre scheme in Bawnogue will be followed up with a Phase 2 scheme. Phase 2, which is at the early stages of development, will focus on the active travel connections to the district centre. This will provide an opportunity for some active travel enhancements to be provided outside Scoil Talbot.