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SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

MOTION NO. 11

MOTION: Councillor Yvonne Collins

That the Chief Executive implement a school-street scheme, similar to that implemented by Fingal County Council, to ban traffic from dropping children at the school gates, in order to cut down on the amount of air pollution at schools caused by the traffic, and to encourage an increase in pupils using "active travel" such as walking, cycling or scooting and to promote a cleaner, quieter space. 

REPORT:

This Council is supportive of such a proposal and is currently considering how best to identify a location and how to implement it. As part of this, officers have been in discussions with Fingal County Council in relation to the recent introduction of their pilot School Street and in early January went on a site visit with officers from Fingal to view how the scheme operates in the morning. The aims of the scheme is to improve the safety and well-being of pupils attending two primary schools in close proximity in Malahide.

This scheme was introduced in late 2019 due to the traffic challenges outside both schools which are similar to challenges being experienced outside many of the school located within the SDCC administrative area.  These challenges include school gate congestion, unsafe parking and blocking of footpaths, road safety risks due to vehicular movements, children being exposed to excess air pollution, and car-dependent children being less physically active.

Such scheme focuses on pedestrianised zone(s) where access for vehicles is restricted during drop off and collection times of the school.

Issues for consideration including but not limited to the following:

A mix of engineering/administration expertise used as part of the engagement process and engineering expertise to develop/install the School Street

• Barriers installed as part of the initiative may need to be adapted as some drivers have accessed the street
• Winning hearts/minds for the initiative / support from key stakeholders (AGS, School, Parents, Residents)
• Engineering work required beyond the School Street to help support the initiative
• Presence of bus route
• Adaptability to suit the physical / prevailing conditions environment
• Funding

The subject will be further considered by the LUPT Strategic Policy Committee and a subsequent report will issue to full Council.