COMHAIRLE CHONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, April 10, 2006

MOTION No. 3

MOTION: Cllr. Eamonn Tuffy

That South Dublin County Council recognises that the existing national School Transport System operated by the Department of Educational and Science and Bus Eireann was designed in another era for the principal purpose of increasing educational participation at second level, and that the issue to be addressed in school transport in the County in the new century has to do with traffic congestion, safety at school locations and pressure on parents to bring children to school by car, and requests the Manager to undertake an initiative, in consultation with the Government  to provide a Council operated School Transport System in the County. 

REPORT:

The Roads & Traffic Department has had initial discussions with the Departments of Transport (DoT) and Education & Science (DoEd), with Dublin Bus, and with selected School Principals (electoral area basis).

The DoT has indicated support and agreed to investigate options for further involvement. Dublin Bus has indicated its support in principle, pending finalisation of its current service review. Useful statistical information has been received from the DoEd on pupil numbers (primary & post-primary) in the county.

Preliminary feedback from School Principals on the location/origin of pupils attending their schools indicates a high percentage (70-80%) of pupils living within a 600 metre radius, with the resulting possibility of significant reduction in local congestion if local school car-trips were to be replaced by an American-style local school-transport system.

It is proposed, therefore, to undertake a study to determine the feasibility of such a system, including cost-benefits and funding options, in regard to which the DoT has indicated it will asist in clarifying a number of operating issues and scheme selection criteria. A proposal to fund the study has been submitted to the Dublin Transportation Office, and the Roads & Traffic Department will proceed with scoping and preparation of a Brief for Engagement of  Consultants to carry out the proposed study.