COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, September 10, 2012

QUESTION NO. 16

QUESTION: Councillor W. Lavelle

To ask the Manager, when considering future applications to the National Transport Authority, to prioritise measures to improve pedestrian and cycle safety along key routes to schools; and not to progress any further proposals for the opening-up of existing estate railings except where originally requested by local residents?

REPLY:

Applications to the NTA for funding are assessed in relation to a range of criteria based on a user hierarchy that seeks to promote walking, cycling and public transport rather than car use, particularly for local journeys that may be relatively short.  Typically, projects identified in the SDCC area will be competing with projects in each of the three other Dublin local authority areas.

Measures to improve pedestrian and cycle safety on key routes to schools are important, but can often include permeability links via existing closed off areas such as open spaces and housing estates.  Evidence of strong pedestrian/cycle desire lines, whereby a significant proportion of the local population are already climbing over or through walls or fences, is a good indicator of where local routes may be improved and upgraded to facilitate greater  pedestrian and cyclist use.  Pedestrian and cycle safety measures on the road network may not be as effective if the road network has been originally laid out to promote the efficient movement of vehicles in the first instance and cannot offer convenient and direct routes that would encourage walking or cycling.  Moreover, whilst journeys to school are important, trips to local shops and services, bus stops, open spaces and workplaces are also considered to be of significance. 

Measures that improve access to a range of destinations to and from residential areas are therefore likely to be supported. The approach proposed in the question would limit both the range of  appropriate measures identified through the above process across the County and the related funding opportunities.  Every proposal for funding will have different characteristics and considerations and merits individual consideration.  The practice to date has been to discuss proposals with local members prior to seeking funding and to engage in significant local consultation either in lieu of Part 8, where the proposed Project is sub Part 8 threshold, or prior to Part 8 where necessary.