Lord Mayor launches Dublin’s first ‘School Zone’ as kids go back

THE Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr Hazel Chu, helped launch one of the new School Zones ahead of the return of thousands of children to classrooms across the country today.

These zones are designed to encourage vehicles to slow down, discourage drop off and pick up to reduce congestion and increase safety at the school gate.

Dublin City Council, in collaboration with the NTA and Green-Schools, have implemented a new School Zone at Francis Street CBS, John Dillon Street, Dublin 8.

The Francis Street CBS school zone includes gateway line-marking stating ‘School Zone’ at either end of the area; the front of school area demarcated by specific colour circles on road surface; plus a number of pencil shaped bollards to prevent illegal parking in vicinity of school. The design features assist in creating a safer, calmer, more attractive environment at the school gate.

Speaking about the School Zone initiative, the Lord Mayor Chu said: “I am delighted Dublin City Council are implementing measures such as school zones. High volumes of vehicles at school gates mean small children have no safe access to school, often having to maneuveraround parked and turning vehicles to get into the school grounds.”

Front of school congestion has been identified as a chronic problem across Ireland.

Recently 200 school principals responded to national survey, identifying vehicle parking and vehicle drop off congestion as the number one challenge for social distancing at the front of their school.