Proposed Front of School Works Gaelscoil Inse Chór

Sep 2025

Dublin City Council, with the support of the National Transport Authority, proposes to implement front-of-school works to improve the safety of students and vulnerable road users accessing and exiting Gaelscoil Inse Chór.

What are School Zones?

School Zones are built, infrastructural upgrades that are designed to give priority to students at the school gate by freeing up footpaths and reducing vehicle drop-offs, pick-ups and engine idling. The aim is to increase safety at the front of school and prioritise active travel (walking, cycling, wheeling and scooting) to and from school.

 School Zones are implemented around the world in order to: 

·        Increase student safety;

·        Reduce vehicle drop-offs, pick-ups and idling outside the school gate;

·        Reduce congestion and prioritise active travel (walking, cycling, wheeling and scooting) to and from school;

·        Encourage slow, safe driving in the area of the school;

·        Promote considerate parking;

·        Reduce emissions and pollution, and improve air quality and noise quality by reducing volume of traffic at schools and vehicles with engines idling.

Where will these works take place?

The works will take place on South Circular Road and Con Colbert Road. 

What works will take place at Gaelscoil Inse Chór, Kilmainham?

The works will consist of:

Pencil bollards, yellow rigid bollards will replace existing lighthouse bollards on South Circular Road and on Con Colbert Road, positioned along the footpath edge within the school zone.

This is to prevent illegal parking on the buildouts and footpath and raise awareness to driver of the presence of a school zone. 

‘School Zone’ road surface sign will be painted directly on Painted on the carriageway on Con Colbert Road to visually define the zone.

This is to advise motorists they are in a School Zone and to drive accordingly

A new concrete footpath build-out is to be installed at Con Colbert Road close to the school zone.

Colourful road markings consisting of yellow and red circles will be painted directly on Con Colbert Road. These raise awareness of the presence of the school.

School Ahead signs with flashing amber signals will be installed on northern and southern approaches of South Circular Road & installed on western and eastern approaches of Con Colbert Road. This is to alert drivers that they are entering a school zone and to drive accordingly.

A new Raised Table/Ramp will be installed at the entrance to the Irish National War Memorial Park. This will Include buff tactile paving and dropped kerbs on both sides. This will reduce the speed of cars and prioritise pedestrian movement. The footway at the crossing points will be dished with buff coloured tactile blister pavement inserts. This tactile paving prevents trips and slips and is more user friendly for people with mobility and visual impairment needs. Pedestrian Signal Timing: At the junction near the park entrance to be extended during school hours (08:15–09:30 & 13:00–15:15).

Other site-specific measures include:

Existing Guardrails on Con Colbert Road:

• Existing ones to be repainted.
• Extended eastward to funnel pedestrians into the median.
• Extended westward to guide pedestrians to controlled crossing.

Free-standing pole banners to be positioned at entry points to the school zone.

Why are we implementing this School Zone?

Traffic-related safety concerns as well as opportunities for interventions have been reported by the school, parents, neighbours, Dublin City Council’s School Warden Service, Parking Enforcement and School Mobility Officer, including:

• Speeding, especially in the afternoon, and congestion during morning drop-off times was consistently observed.
• Illegal parking on footpaths and in disabled spaces and drivers breaking red lights was also observed.
• Poor visibility of the school from the road on South Circular Road with a tendency for vehicles to idle and park illegally at the gate.
• Con Colbert Road is a major arterial route linking the M50 to the city centre with high traffic volumes and limited space for vulnerable road users.
• There is poor visibility of the school and Memorial Park entrance and faded road markings and lack of placemaking elements. Footpaths are narrow and uneven.
• More signage clearly indicating the school.
• There are High Active Travel Rates in Gael Scoil Inse Chór, 41.6% walk, 18.7% cycle, and 12.7% scoot to school. 83.7% of students live within 2km, making active travel feasible.
•  There is strong support for a school zone in the community. 97.3% of surveyed families agreed that road safety is a problem around the school. 99.1% support works to improve safety at the front of the school. 100% support improvements to walking and cycling routes.

Share your thoughts from 02 Sep to 16 Sep 2025

If you would like to share comments or thoughts on these works please contact us via:

·        Online survey: Please fill out the survey on this platform by pressing the 'Take Survey' button.

·        Email: sustainablemobility@dublincity.ie (with Gaelscoil Inse Chór in the subject bar)

·        Phone: Customer Services Desk (01) 222 2222 who will refer you to an available member of the School Mobility team

·        Postal Address: School Mobility Programme, City Centre Transports Projects, Block 2, Floor 7, Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8, Ireland, D08 RF3F

This period of non-statutory consultation closes at midnight on 16 Sep 2025.

What happens next?

We will review all the comments and observations and, where appropriate, make required changes to the design. Works will then be scheduled for installation.

For the School Zone front-of-school treatment to work effectively, parents who need to drive must be willing to change their drop off and pick up habits. Parents and guardians will be encouraged not to collect and drop off within the School Zone. They must park respectfully and legally outside of the School Zone by not blocking other entrances, mounting footpaths or double parking.

A hard copy poster of the design will be on view at the school gate.