COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, October 12, 2026

QUESTION NO.21

QUESTION: Councillor J. Sinnott

To ask the Chief Executive to outline the number of traffic calming requests received by the Council during the most recent 12-month period and the criteria and process used to assess and prioritise these requests.

REPLY:

The Council received a total of 73no. Traffic Calming Application Forms from the public and elected members during the previous 12-month period. Of these, 13no. applications were received within the Tallaght Central and South Electoral Area, 19no. applications within the Clondalkin Electoral Area, 26no. applications within the Rathfarnham-Templeogue, Firhouse-Bohernabreena Electoral Area, and 15no. applications within the Lucan-Palmerstown-Fonthill Electoral Area.

Applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis by senior engineering staff taking account of a range of factors, including road classification, vehicle speeds, traffic volumes, road layout, the surrounding environment, the presence of vulnerable road users, collision history, the suitability of potential traffic calming measures and any site-specific constraints. In addition to the Traffic Calming applications, the Council Traffic team develop traffic calming proposals for the Traffic Calming Programme where there are known road safety issues.

The Traffic Calming Programme is intended to deliver low-cost traffic management and traffic calming measures that can be implemented within the available programme budget. Typical measures may include the installation of speed ramps, junction tightening, pedestrian improvement measures, chicanes and other traffic calming interventions. Requests requiring significant road reconstruction, major junction modifications, land acquisition or other substantial infrastructure works involving significant capital investment are generally not considered as part of the Traffic Calming Programme and may be more appropriately considered under separate capital projects, subject to funding availability and programme priorities. In some instances, physical, operational, safety or design constraints may also prevent the implementation of the measures requested.

Following assessment, a workshop is held with Councillors in each Electoral Area prior to the commencement of the formal public consultation process. Proposed traffic calming measures and locations are then advertised for public consultation under Section 38 of the Roads Act 1994, as amended. Any submissions received during the consultation period are considered and reviewed. Schemes that are considered appropriate following consultation are subsequently included in the Traffic Calming Programme for implementation, subject to available resources and funding.

In selecting schemes for inclusion in the programme, the Council also seeks to achieve an appropriate geographic spread of projects across the County while ensuring that the proposed measures can be delivered within the available budget and resources.

For example, a total of 14no. Traffic Calming schemes were delivered in 2025, and a further 14no. Traffic Calming schemes are being delivered in 2026. It is planned that approximately 14no. additional Traffic Calming schemes will be delivered in 2027, subject to similar funding being available.

The assessment of current applications received for inclusion in the next Traffic Calming Programme in 2027 will commence shortly. It is anticipated that public consultation on proposed measures will be completed during the first quarter of 2027, with construction works expected to commence during 2027, subject to the completion of statutory processes, programme scheduling, resource and funding availability.