A new 'Safe Routes to School' programme has been funded by the government, which will support children cycling, walking and scooting to primary and post-primary schools.  

Speaking on this new incentive, Niall Moyna, Professor of Health and Human Performance at DCU spoke to Newstalk Breakfast:

"Anything we can do to get kids to be physically active is important. It's currently recommended that kids between the ages of 10-18 get around 60 minutes per day of moderate to vigorous-intensity physical activity."

"Currently only 17% of primary school kids meet the minimum recommendation and only 10% of secondary school kids so actively commuting to school is one wondering way of accumulating those 60 minutes per day."

When pushed on the capability of children living in rural spaces to walk to school, Moyna responded with research from reports he and his team have undertaken recently:

"We know that currently, about 40% of kids actively to school, but you're seven to twelve more times likely to actively commute to school is you live in an urban area rather than a rural area.

"So the issue is how can you get a kid who lives say eight kilometres from school on a January night when it's cold and wet to have a lighted pavement for them to walk on. That's the first thing.

"Secondly, and particularly for young girls commuting to school, are we going to have the facilities for them to shower when they get to school? Particularly if it's a wet morning. So it's not just about the infrastructure of getting there, it's when you get there too. That's important."

A small girl casts a long shadow while riding her bicycle, 19-04-2018. Image: Jan Woitas/DPA/PA Images