179. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Transport the number of schools that will be included in round 5 funding under the Safe Routes to School programme. [66977/26]

The Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Programme was launched in March 2021 with the aim of supporting walking, scooting, and cycling to primary and post-primary schools, and creating safer walking and cycling routes within communities, through the provision of infrastructure interventions including, in some cases, School Zones.

These projects should help alleviate congestion at school gates and increase the number of students who walk or cycle to school. The Safe Routes to School Programme is funded by the Department of Transport through the National Transport Authority (NTA) and An Taisce's Green Schools is co-ordinating the programme.

Invitations to express interest were sent to all primary and secondary schools in the country, and 932 applications were received from schools across every county in Ireland. It should be noted that all schools that applied to the original call for applications were accepted into the programme, and if not selected in the initial rounds will be selected at a later date with no requirement to apply again. Given the pipeline of projects due for completion, there are no plans for an additional call for schools to join the SRTS programme currently.

Applicant schools enter the Programme in tranches and across the first four rounds 525 schools are now either active in the programme or have had projects completed. Round 5 is due to be launched in the coming weeks, and all details around the selected schools will be announced at that time.