Proposed Front of School Works St Matthew's National School

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 St. Matthew's National School, Dublin 4

What are School Zones?

Image 1: Example School Zone at Star of the Sea School, Sandymount, Dublin 4

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 around the school.
• Promote considerate parking.
• Reduce emissions and pollution and improve air quality and noise levels by reducing traffic at schools and limiting vehicle idling.

Where will these works take place?

These works will take place on Cranfield Place and to a small extent on Oswald & Tritonville Rds.

Image 2: Map snip of the extent of works at St. Matthew’s.

What will the works consist of?

Pencil bollards, yellow rigid bollards will be placed along the footpath on Cranfield Place and Oswald Road and a small number on Tritonville Rd by the existing school warden crossing, to provide increased safety for students. These are depicted as pink dots on the design drawing.

Some flexible yellow bollards will be placed on Tritonville Rd and Cranfield Place both at existing warden crossings. These are depicted as green dots on the drawing.

Image 3: Example pencil bollards on footpath in Rathmines Rd Upper

3 Sheffield Stands for bike parking will be installed at Cranfield Place close to the existing warden crossing.

Image 4: Example Sheffield stand bike parking

A "School Zone" road surface marking will be installed on Cranfield Place and on Oswald Road. This marking is intended to alert motorists that they are entering a School Zone and to encourage slower, safer driving behaviour in the vicinity of the school.

Image 5: Example road surface sign for School Zone, Leinster Road, Rathmines, Dublin 6

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

Image 6: Example 'Colourful Circle Road Markings' Scoil Fhursa Cromcastle

School Ahead signs with flashing amber signals will be installed on eastern approach to St Matthew’s NS on Cranfield Place, alerting drivers that they are entering a School Zone and to encourage slower, safer driving behaviour.

Image 7: Example 'School Ahead' sign with flashing amber signal

Why are we implementing this School Zone?

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

• Vehicles parking illegally on footpaths, at junctions, and in areas that reduce visibility for children crossing the road.
• Traffic congestion and unsafe vehicle manoeuvres during school drop-off and pick-up times.
• Some excessive vehicle speeds in the vicinity of the school, creating safety risks for pupils and other road users.
• Children being required to walk between or around parked vehicles, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of collisions.
• Insufficient space on footpaths due to parked vehicles and high pedestrian volumes, particularly at peak school times.
• Conflicts between vehicles and students were observed by DCC school zone staff outside the school gates, resulting in an environment that feels unsafe for pupils and families.

Share Your Thoughts on the Proposed School Zone

The public consultation period for the proposed School Zone will run from 05 Oct to 19 Oct 2026.

If you would like to share your comments or observations on the proposal, you can do so through any of the following channels:

• Online Survey: Complete the survey on this platform by selecting the "Take Survey" button.
• Email: sustainablemobility@dublincity.ie (please include ‘’St. Matthew's National School’’ in the subject line).
• Post: School Mobility Programme, City Centre Transport Projects, Block 2, Floor 7
• Civic Offices, Wood Quay
• Dublin 8, Ireland
• D08 RF3F

This non-statutory consultation period closes at midnight on 19 Oct 2026.

What Happens Next?

All comments and observations received during the consultation period will be reviewed. Where appropriate, amendments will be made to the proposed design before the works are scheduled for implementation.

For the School Zone front-of-school treatment to operate effectively, parents and guardians who need to drive will be encouraged to change their drop-off and pick-up habits. Those travelling by car should avoid dropping off or collecting students within the School Zone and should instead park legally and considerately outside the zone.