Proposed Front of School Works Presentation Primary School Terenure

School Zone Proposal Information

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 Presentation Primary School on Terenure Road West.

What are School Zones?

School Zones are built, infrastructural upgrades 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 traffic at schools and vehicles with engines idling.

Where will these works take place?

These works will take place on Terenure Road West.

At Presentation Primary School, Terenure, the works will consist of:

Pencil bollards, which are yellow rigid bollards, will be placed along the edge of the buildouts and footpath. This is to prevent illegal parking on the buildouts and footpath. These are depicted as pink dots on the design drawing.

A ‘School Zone’ road surface sign will be painted directly on Terenure Road West on approach to the school gate. This is to advise motorists that they are in a School Zone and to drive accordingly.

A new wide ramp with school warden crossing will be constructed to reduce the speed of cars down the road and outside the school. The footway at the crossing points will be dished with buff coloured tactile blister pavement inserts added. This tactile paving prevents trips and slips. The paving is more user-friendly for people with mobility and visual impairment needs.

New concrete footpath buildouts and a widened footpath is to be constructed in front of Presentation Primary School to decrease the crossing length for pedestrians and create more space for people on the footpath. By narrowing the carriageway with the buildouts and widened footpath, it will also reduce the speed of drivers coming in and out of the area. 

Colourful road markings consisting of yellow and red circles will be painted directly on Terenure Road West. These raise awareness of the presence of the school as traffic moves onto and down Terenure Road West.

'School Ahead' signs with flashing amber signals will be installed on Terenure Road West to alert drivers that they are entering a school zone and to drive accordingly.

Why are we implementing this School Zone?

Traffic-related safety concerns have been reported and observed by the school, parents, neighbours, Dublin City Council’s School Warden Service, Parking Enforcement and School Mobility Officer. These concerns include:

• Terenure Road West is a heavily trafficked road. This results in persistent congestion, especially during peak hours.
• The existing footpath does not provide sufficient space for parents and children to gather during drop off and collection times, leading to dangerous spill over on the road.
• Insufficient visibility of the school and school area for vehicles using the road.
• Vehicles making illegal U-turns on the carriageway during drop off and pick up times causes a risk of accidents.