Proposed Front of School Works at Gaelscoil Lios na nÓg

Overview

Dublin City Council, with the support of the National Transport Authority, proposes to implement front-of-school works to improve the safety of students and vulnerable road users accessing and exiting Gaelscoil Lios a nÓg and Scoil Bhríde on Oakley Road.

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 School Zone at Star of the Sea School, Sandymount, Dublin 4

 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, wheeling 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 volume of traffic at schools and vehicles with engines idling

Where will these works take place?

These works will take place on Oakley Road.

Image 2: Extent of works at Gaelscoil Lios na n-Óg

What works will take place at Gaelscoil Lios na nÓg, Rathmines?

The works will consist of:

Pencil bollards, both rigid yellow bollards and flexible blue and green bollards will be placed along the edge of the buildout. This is to prevent illegal parking on the footpaths. These are depicted as pink, blue and green dots on the design drawing.

Image 3: Example pencil bollards on footpath in Broombridge ET, Dublin 7

A ‘School Zone’ road surface sign will be painted directly on Oakley Road on approach to the school gate. This is to advise motorists they are in a School Zone and to drive accordingly.

Image 4: Example road surface sign for School Zone, Leinster Road, Rathmines, Dublin 6

A new wide ramp will be constructed to reduce the speed of cars down the one-way road and outside the school. The footway at the crossing points will be dished with buff coloured tactile blister pavement inserts added. This tactile paving prevents trips and slips. The paving is more user friendly for people with mobility and visual impairment needs.

Image 5: Example ramp construction with buff paving at Broombridge Educate Together, Dublin 7

A new concrete footpath build-out is to be constructed outside Scoil Bhríde and Gaelscoil Lios na nÓg to decrease the crossing length for pedestrians and create more space for people waiting to cross. By narrowing the carriageway the buildout will also reduce the speed of drivers coming into and out of the area.

Image 6: Example footpath build-out, South William Street, Dublin 2

Why are we implementing this School Zone?

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

• Oakley Road is a one way road. Cars speeding down the road anticipating no oncoming traffic cause concerns for the safety of pedestrians;
• The existing footpath does not provide sufficient space for parents and children to gather during drop off and collection times, leading to dangerous spill over onto the road;
• Insufficient visibility of the school and school area for vehicles using the road;
• Vehicular parking on footpath causing additional congestion during drop off and pick up times

Share your thoughts from 17 to 30 June 2024

If you would like to share comments or thoughts on these works please contact us via:

• Online survey: https://consultation.dublincity.ie/ (search Gaelscoil Lios na nÓg) has all of the details listed here as well as a portal through which to give feedback
• Email: sustainablemobility@dublincity.ie (with Gaelscoil Lios na nÓg in the subject bar)
• Phone: Customer Services Desk (01) 222 2222 who will refer you to an available member of the School Mobility team
• Postal Address: School Mobility Programme, City Centre Transports Projects, Block 2, Floor 7, Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8, Ireland, D08 RF3F

This period of non-statutory consultation closes at midnight on 30 June 2024.

What happens next?

We will 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.

Full drawings and School Zone guidance documents are available online at https://consultation.dublincity.ie/ (search Gaelscoil Lios na nÓg).

A hard copy poster of the design will be on view at the school gate.