Safe routes to school programme making travelling to school safer in Cork

The safe routes to school programme is giving students safer and healthier options for getting to school in County Cork, said a Fine Gael TD for Cork Northwest John Paul O’Shea.

Deputy O’Shea said over €1 million has been allocated for 13 schools in Cork under this scheme.

“It’s great to see such high demand for this scheme in Cork. This scheme is not only good for students, but also good for the environment.

“The scheme funds small and large-scale projects like providing “front of school” treatments to enhance access to the school grounds, accelerating delivery of walking, cycling, and wheeling infrastructure on key access routes to schools, and expanding the amount of cycle and scooter parking available at schools.

“Across the country 412 schools are currently active in the programme, with 13 of these in County Cork.

“We’re seeing the success of this programme, with schools in the programme reporting a 17% reduction in journeys to school by car, with students shifting their journeys to walking, cycling, scooting, or taking public transport instead.

“I would like to congratulate all the schools involved, in particular St Patrick’s BNS, St Joseph’s Primary School, Coachford NS, Baltydaniel NS and CBS Charleville Secondary School,  for their hard work on implementing this project.

“It’s so important that we are supporting students to walk, cycle, scoot or take public transport to school which makes routes to school safer and helps with relieving local traffic congestion”, concluded Deputy O’Shea.