COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF LUCAN / PALMERSTOWN / NORTH CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, March 24, 2026

MOTION NO.13

MOTION: Councillor C. Brady

Cathaoirleach's Business

That this Committee call for the provision of school wardens at Lucan Community National School, Gaelscoil Naomh Pádraig, and Esker Educate Together, to support a safe route to school during peak school hours.

REPORT:

The Council implements a range of traffic-management interventions in the vicinity of schools, including active travel initiatives, special speed limits, pedestrian and School Warden-assisted crossings, Safe Routes to School measures, Safe School Zones, and Road Safety Education and promotion. 

Safe Routes To School (SRTS) is a national programme designed to make it safer and easier for students to walk, cycle, scoot, and wheel to school. It is coordinated by An Taisce in partnership with the National Transport Authority (NTA) and supported by the Department of Transport and the Department of Education. The programme has 3 core aims: 

1.  Accelerate the delivery of sustainable / active transport eg walking, and cycling infrastructure on key access routes to schools

2. Provide front-of-school safety treatments

3.  Increase sustainable transport parking at schools. 

Gaelscoil Naomh Pádraig is a future Safe-Routes-To-School site.

Safe School Zones are designated areas at the front of schools where specific road-safety and traffic-management measures are introduced to create a safer environment for children walking, cycling, wheeling, or scooting to school.   They typically include front of school treatment designed to increase student safety and reduce vehicle drop-offs /  pick-ups.

Esker Educate Together is a future Safe-School-Zone site

School Warden Scheme  ensures primary school going children can cross public roads safely on their way to and from school.   

Special Speed Limits are reduced speed limits that can apply in specific locations, such as the area around schools which are timed or periodic relative to school opening and closing times.

Road Safety Officer:  Our Road Safety Officer is responsible for promoting road safety, delivering education and awareness programmes, and coordinating local road-safety initiatives within the community.   She works closely with the Road Safety Authority (RSA), An Garda Síochána, the HSE, emergency services, schools, local businesses, community groups, and elected members to coordinate road-safety actions. 

Requests for road crossing assistance to primary school going children from these three schools are currently under examination following a "count" which was undertaken in late 2025.   Depending on the outcome of those counts it may be possible to provide measure(s) along some of the lines as outlined above, noting that School Wardens are employees of the Council, are included in our work force plan numbers and any deviation to the numbers would require prior formal approval from DHLGH