Proposed Front-of-School Works at Our Lady of Consolation National School and Scoil Chiarain CBS, Collins Avenue East, D5

Overview

Dublin City Council with the support of the National Transport Authority propose to implement School Zone front-of-school works to improve the safety of students and vulnerable road users accessing and exiting schools at Our Lady of Consolation National School and Scoil Chiarain CBS, Collins Avenue East, Donnycarney, Dublin 5. 

What are School Zones?

School Zones are built infrastructural upgrades that are designed to give priority to students at the school gate by freeing up footpaths and reducing vehicle drop-offs, pick-ups and idling. The aim is to increase safety at the front of school and prioritise active travel (walking, cycling, wheeling and scooting) to and from school.

Image 1: Example of School Zone at Star of the Sea School, Sandymount, D4  

School Zones are implemented around the world in order to:  

• Increase student safety.
• Reduce vehicle drop-offs, pick-ups and idling outside the school gate.
• Reduce congestion and prioritise active travel (walking, cycling and scooting) to and from school.
• Encourage slow, safe driving in the area of the school.
• Promote considerate parking.
• Reduce emissions and pollution, and improve air quality and noise quality by reducing the volume of traffic at schools and vehicles with engines idling.

Where will these works take place?

These works will take place on Clancarthy Road and Collins Avenue East, Donnycarney, Dublin 5, outside of Our Lady of Consolation National School and Scoil Chiarain CBS.

Image 2: Extent of the works at Our Lady of Consolation National School and Scoil Chiarain CBS

What works will take place at Our Lady of Consolation National School and Scoil Chiarain CBS?

The works will consist of:

• Pencil bollards on the footpath along Clancarthy Road at the entrance to Our Lady of Consolation National School, along Collins Avenue East at the entrance to Scoil Chiarain CBS, and at the warden crossing. All house vehicular entrances will remain unobstructed. Pencil bollards are depicted as pink dots on the design drawing below.

Image 3: Example Pencil Bollard on Footpath, Cromcastle, Kilmore, D5

• Lighthouse bollards on the footpath on the northern side of Collins Avenue East near the school warden crossing and on the southern side beyond  the School Zone area. All house vehicular entrances will remain unobstructed. These are depicted as black and white dots on the design drawing below.

Image 4: Example Lighthouse Bollard on Footpath, Mercer Street, D2

• Colourful road markings consisting of yellow and red circles painted directly on the road on Clancarthy Road at the entrance to Our Lady of Consolation National School and on Collins Avenue East at the entrance to Scoil Chiarain CBS.

Image 5: Example Circle Road Surface Markings, Thornville Rd, Kilbarrack, D5

• School Zone road surface signs will be painted at 1) the entry point to Our Lady of Consolation National School where Clancarthy Road meets Collins Avenue East, 2) on approach Scoil Chiarain CBS on Collins Avenue East from the east and 3) on approach Scoil Chiarain CBS on Collins Avenue East from the west.

Image 6: Example Road Surface Sign For School Zone, Leinster Road, Rathmines, D6   

• A new School Ahead Variable Message Signs to be provided on the Collins Avenue East.

Image 7: Example School Ahead Flashing Amber Sign, Sandford Road, D6

• The footpath at the junction of Clancarthy Road and Collins Avenue East will be built out to reduce the speed of cars coming into the area and to decrease the crossing length. These crossing points will be fitted with the buff coloured blister tactile pavement inserts and will have bollards at the edges to prevent vehicles using them as parking areas. This type of buff-paving prevents trips and slips and is more user-friendly for people with mobility and/or visual impairment needs.

Image 8:  Example Tactile Blister Pavements 

• The existing 10 meter wide speed ramp where Clancarthy Road meets Collins Avenue East will be retained. All existing cycle stands along Clancarthy road are retained. The existing disabled bay on the west side of Clancarthy road is retained

Image 9: Snippet of Design Drawings for Our Lady of Consolation National School and Scoil Chiarain CBS

Image 10: Snippit of Design Drawings for Scoil Chiarain CBS

For complete design drawings and supporting information go to the end of this page.

Drawings are available to view in hard copy poster form at the schools from 24th April 2023.

Why are we implementing this School Zone?

Traffic related safety concerns have been reported and observed by the schools, parents, neighbours, Dublin City Council’s School Warden Service, Parking Enforcement and School Mobility Officer, including:

• The high volume of vehicular traffic at school times outside both school gates
• Illegal vehicular parking on the footpaths outside the school. Parents perceive this as "cars parked everywhere at school times, no traffic calming, no cycle paths, unsafe environment for small kids".
• Bottle necks created on Collins Avenue East due to bad parking.
• Pedestrian congestion outside school during school times.

Image 11: Cars illegally parked on paths. 

The results of the Green Schools Parent Travel Survey (2021) for Our Lady of Consulation indicate that issues relating to parking and drop-off are a key concern for parents. 

Image 12: Results from Green Schools Parent Travel survey indicating parking and drop-off as a key concern. 

Image 13: Results from Green Schools PArent Travel survey indicating where students travel to school from. 

What happens next? 

We will then review all the comments and observations and, where appropriate, make required changes to the design. Works will then be scheduled for installation.

For the School Zone front-of-school treatment to work effectively, parents who need to drive must be willing to change their drop off and pick up habits. Parents and guardians will be encouraged not to collect and drop off within the School Zone. They must park respectfully and legally outside of the School Zone by not blocking other entrances, mounting footpaths or double parking.

Further Information 

• Dublin City Council School Zones
• National Transport Authority Safe Routes To School (SRTS)
• National Transport Authority Design Guide for Safe Routes To School  September 2022
• An Taisce Green School Safe Routes To School October 2022