That this Area Committee notes with concern the very serious problem of traffic congestion on Newbrook Road, Donaghmede, at school peak times which is a huge inconvenience and a real hazard to residents. This road is effectively a cul de sac with a school entrance/exit at the end of it, serving a campus with several schools and streams of cars entering and leaving the school to drop and collect pupils twice per day. This renders their road inaccessible for residents, many of them elderly, whose vehicles are blocked in for several hours each day, creating a hazard also due to inaccessibility for emergency vehicles. The Area Committee calls for action to address this issue, including restricting access to the road, encouraging parents to park at the nearby shopping centre, encouraging more walking and cycling to school, and mandates the Area Office to liaise with all stakeholders to find a solution.
Minutes:
That this Area Committee notes with concern the very serious problem of traffic congestion on Newbrook Road, Donaghmede, at school peak times which is a huge inconvenience and a real hazard to residents. This road is effectively a cul de sac with a school entrance/exit at the end of it, serving a campus with several schools and streams of cars entering and leaving the school to drop and collect pupils twice per day. This renders their road inaccessible for residents, many of them elderly, whose vehicles are blocked in for several hours each day, creating a hazard also due to inaccessibility for emergency vehicles. The Area Committee calls for action to address this issue, including restricting access to the road, encouraging parents to park at the nearby shopping centre, encouraging more walking and cycling to school, and mandates the Area Office to liaise with all stakeholders to find a solution.
Reply
The parking policy and enforcement team can engage the parking enforcement contactor to patrol the area when the parking restrictions are implemented. If there is a vehicle obstructing a driveway, Dublin Street Parking Services can be contacted directly to carry out enforcement at that particular location.
Contact: Dermot Stevenson, Parking Enforcement Officer.
Tel: 222 2017.
Email: dermot.stevenson@dublincity.ie
There are two DCC projects that deal with safety around schools associated with traffic in Newbrook Road, Donaghmede. The School Zone Project and The Safe Routes to School Project. Both Projects are funded by the National Transport Authority and their delivery is subject to the availability of staffing resources within Dublin City Council and the availability of external resources to take up tender applications. Applications for School Zones and Safe Routes to School were taken during 2020 and 2021 and are now closed. The schools in the vicinity of Donaghmede, which are being dealt with under these school mobility projects are as follows.
St Kevin’s Junior National School Newbrook Avenue, Donaghmede, Dublin 13 is a Safe Routes to School Round 2 applicant. They did not apply for the School Zone intervention. They will not be assessed for installation of this national project until Safe Route to School Round 1 applicants are processed. We have commenced with Safer Route to School Round 1 applicants.
Scoil Cholmcille Senior National School, Newbrook Road, Donaghmede, and Holy Trinity Senior National School, Grange Road, Donaghmede, D13 Dublin both applied for a School Zone in 2021. School gate observations and interviews with the School Principals were carried out by the School Mobility Officers in June 2021 but due to lack of technical staffing resources and the withdrawal of consultancy supports from the National Transport Authority in late summer 2021 we were unable to proceed to concept design.
City Transport Projects/School Mobility has been instructed by Department Of Transport to prioritize any Safe Route to School Round 1 applicants for front of school safety improvement works from September 2022 until December 2022. None of the Schools on Newbrook Road are on this current priority list.
All schools will be reassessed in 2023 for progression of their School Zone and Safe Routes to School Applications. Any progression is subject to DCC staffing resources.
Contact: Niamh Ni Cholmain. School Mobility Officer (School Zones and Safe Route to School)
Tel: 222 3471.
Email: niamh.nicholmain@dublincity.ie
Order: Agreed. However, Cllr. MacDonncha stated that he would communicate directly with Dermot Stevenson for further on this issue. Bernie Roe stated that she met with Niamh Ni Cholmain and they have agreed that they will work on this issue together, in conjunction with Gardaí and the schools.