COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN, NEWCASTLE, RATHCOOLE, SAGGART AND BRITTAS AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, January 21, 2026

QUESTION NO. 1

QUESTION: Councillor S. O'Hara

To ask the Chief Executive to provide an urgent update on the traffic plan for Rathcoole, Newcastle and Saggart, and to outline short-term measures to address congestion.

REPLY: 

The objective to carry out a traffic study for Rathcoole, Newcastle and Saggart is in the County Development Plan 2022-2028.

Extract of that objective below:

"SM6 SLO 1: To investigate the need to carry out a traffic and transport study for Rathcoole, Saggart and Newcastle and the surrounding areas following the publication of the GDA Strategy review to 2042 which will clarify the context within which the road network in the area will function and to include a review of HGV movement."

Progress is being made on the Traffic Plan for this project.  The Council are working hard to scope the main deliverable for the Local Transport Plan which are outlined below:

Overall Vision for the Transport Plan.

The Transport Plan must look at the current baseline traffic trips generated in the study area.  The current mode share - car, bus, walking and cycle trips generated.  Particular focus on peak times of travel.   Morning a.m. and evening p.m. peak times studies.  Baseline capacity checks on the existing junctions in the study area.  Current capacity shortfalls for all travel modes in the study area.  Infrastructure gaps identified.

Study Area Description: 

Rathcoole, Saggart, Greenogue and Newcastle areas including the existing and proposed transport network links required between these urban centres.  Please note full Transport Plan will include other areas interest in the County.  

Initial Consultations:

Allow for non statutory consultation with all stakeholders - resident and public workshops, elected member workshops, National Transport Authority, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, and Department of Transport workshops.  It is also important that SDCC consult and work together with Fingal County Council on any adjacent Local Authority initiatives.

Local Transport Plan Outputs:

Identify the zoned areas for future growth, and calculate the increases in transport demand for all travel modes.  Add these demand growths to the existing trips currently generated.  Model the trips generated onto the existing transport network.  Include the planned major projects like Bus connects, Cycle South Dublin and TII proposals into the model.  Identify, the key gaps in infrastructure required.  Calculate a phased timeline for delivery of each scheme. Have a low growth, medium growth and high growth suite of proposals. Develop a first draft list of proposals.  Ensure that these proposals are aligned with known Environmental constraints. Appropriate Assessment and Screening reports.  Map up the first draft of proposals ready for the second round of public consultations.

Secondary Consultations:

Carry out a public consultation process on the first draft of transport proposals.   Shortlisting and refinement of proposals post round 2 of consultation.

Transport Plan Finalisation:  Final Draft of Transport scheme proposals with estimated costs for each. A table of proposed schemes (projects) and a phased delivery timeframe for each. Final mapping of transport proposals.  

Final Transport Plan Agreement Adoption:

Transport Plan adoption/agreement.  Transport Plan monitoring and review: Interim Review / Final Review at end of Transport Plan term.

Termination of Transport Consultant contract, including phase completions.

Short term proposals in Rathcoole:

There has been an upgrade to the bus stop and a pedestrian crossing has been installed at bus stop 10385 on the N7 interchange.  Bus stop10385 is where the 125 and 126 services have a 15 minute frequency.  On the main street Rathcoole, the 69 route has hourly services.  At Bus stop 3449 the W6 service which serves Newcastle and Celbridge and Tallaght has a frequency of 20 minute intervals.

There will continue to be discussions with the NTA in relation to improvements in bus services.  A workshop which will include the elected members, the executive and the NTA is scheduled for March 2026.

There is an ongoing Bus Stop enhancement programme being delivered - suitable locations for bus stop enhancements including bus shelters in the Rathcoole area will be put forward to the NTA for approval.