COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SPECIAL MEETING OF COUNTY COUNCIL

Thursday, December 11, 2025

MOTION NO.8 (ID:89345)

MOTION: Councillor L. de Courcy

That this council agrees in line with SM9 Objective 1 which states: "To assess the need for junction improvements, upgrading where necessary, to improve road safety for all users, giving priority to those most vulnerable, while providing for traffic flow in and out of the village centre having due regard to the Spatial Planning and National Roads Guidelines for Planning Authorities 2012." that all existing left hand turn slip lanes within the LPF area will be maintained.

CE Report: 

The proposed motion is putting forward that all existing left hand turn slip lanes within the LPF area will be maintained.  

Chapter 5 of the LPF has included a section on ‘Road, Traffic and Junction Management’ with associated objectives under SM9. The only objective setting out the actions for junctions is as follows: 

SM9 Objective 1:  

To assess the need for junction improvements, upgrading where necessary, to improve road safety for all users, giving priority to those most vulnerable, while providing for traffic flow in and out of the village centre. 

On foot of a submission from TII, there is a CE Recommendation in the CE Report to amend the objective by inserting the words to the end of the objective ‘having due regard to the Spatial Planning and National Roads Guidelines for Planning Authorities 2012’, the wording used in this motion. 

Left vehicle slips are not included in the most recent Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets (DMURS, 2013, updated 2019). The reason for this is they are considered to be unsafe for pedestrian movements. The inclusion of left vehicle slips increases the length of roadway for the pedestrian to cross, they often increase the phases of crossing the road, creating the need for extra pedestrian islands. These complicated junction arrangements are particularly difficult for people with vision problems and learning difficulties.  

Left slips also allow increased vehicle speeds through junctions, which is detrimental to pedestrians and other road users.  

SDCC is obliged to adhere to the Department of Transport in Circular RW 6/2013 which states ‘that the DMURS is mandatory when providing new or modifying existing urban roads and streets within the 60 km/h urban speed limit zone, except for motorways and in exceptional circumstances, on certain urban roads and streets where the written consent of the relevant approving authority has been obtained’. 

It is noted that the objective in the LPF is signposting an assessment of need for junction improvements, upgrading where necessary to improve road safety for all users. The detail of any necessary upgrades will be part of the assessment.  

The motion, if passed, would be contrary to a mandatory requirement under DMURS for road design and as such could not be implemented. 

CE Recommendation: 

No change to the draft LPF (Variation no. 1)

Advisory Note:  Initial Screening for SEA for the Motion

This proposal would not provide the most evidence-based framework for development and has the potential to undermine sustainable development and proper planning - with potential for associated unnecessary adverse environmental effects on various environmental components. Taking this into account, SEA would be likely to be advised as being required.

Initial Screening for AA for the Motion

No AA issues; Stage 2 AA not required.