Section 38 Public Consultation for Safe Routes to School - St Helens SNS, Limetree Avenue, Portmarnock

*Please note that all submissions will be published. Please do not include personal information such as your address or contact details in your submission. If you do, these will be removed in the moderation process prior to publication.

What is the ‘Safe Routes to School (SRTS)’ Programme? 

Safe Routes to School is a national programme delivered by Fingal County Council on behalf of An Taisce and Green Schools that encourages children and their guardians to walk or cycle to school.  

Aims of the SRTS Programme

• Improve safety at the school gate by providing ‘front of school’ treatments to alleviate congestion and improve access.

• Improve access routes to school by improving walking and cycling infrastructure.

• Increase the number of students who cycle to school by expanding the amount of cycle parking.

What is proposed at St Helens SNS Limetree Avenue, Portmarnock?

The Safe Routes to School improvements for St. Helen’s N.S. cover Limetree Avenue, Wendell Avenue, Redfern Avenue, Ashley Rise, Onward Walk, Onward Close, Pulley Park, Briar Walk, Wheatfield Road and Radlett Grove. The scheme includes new and upgraded crossings, tightened junctions, and enhanced pedestrian links. It also establishes defined School Zone gateways and a school-time, pedestrian-only School Street on Limetree Avenue.

Limetree Avenue School Zone Gateways and School Street

• School Zone gateways on both approaches, incorporating buildouts, raised tables, SRTS banners on colour-themed poles, and ‘School’ road markings.
• Removable bollards to enable a temporary pedestrian-only School Street between Pulley Park (east) and Paddy’s Hill (west). Bollards will be installed during school drop-off and pick-up times and stored on site when not in use.
• Junction-mouth tightening and new continuous pedestrian crossings with raised tables, tactile paving, and flush kerbs at the intersections with Pulley Park, Radlett Grove, Wheatfield Road and Briar Walk.
• New uncontrolled crossing with raised table and tactile paving to the east of Briar Walk.
• Adjusted drainage gullies to suit new raised tables and junction tightening.
• Renewal of road markings.

Onward Walk / Onward Close Junction

• Continuous pedestrian crossing with raised table, tactile paving, and flush kerbs.
• Kerb realignment and junction-mouth tightening to slow vehicles.
• Adjusted drainage gullies to suit the new raised pedestrian crossing and junction tightening.
• Renewal of road markings.

Ashley Rise, Redfern Avenue and Wendell Avenue

• New uncontrolled pedestrian crossing on Ashley Rise with raised table and tactile paving.
• New zebra-style pedestrian crossings on Redfern Avenue and Wendell Avenue with pedestrian crossing poles, L-shaped tactile paving, and dropped kerbs.
• Removal of two trees to facilitate the new crossing on Redfern Avenue.
• Renewal of road markings.

Under what legislation will the works be carried out?  

The works will be carried out under Section 38 Road Traffic Act 1994 (as amended) and section 95 of the Road Traffic Act 1961 (as amended). 

Please note that all relevant reports, decisions and determinations can be viewed in the 'related resources' section to the right of this page.  

What design guidance has been used for this scheme? 

• Safe Routes to School  Design Guide - NTA  

Safe Routes to School Design Guide - National Transport

• Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets – Government of Ireland 

 Design manual for Urban Roads and Streets

• The Cycle Design Manual – NTA 

Cycle Design Manual - National Transport

• Traffic Signs Manual – Department of Transport 

Traffic Signs Manual

What comes next?

Following the non-statutory online public consultation we will complete a consultation report and finalise our design based on the findings of this report. The report will be published on this page following the completion of the non-statutory online public consultation.

How can I give feedback?  

Your feedback is important to us and we encourage you to participate in the consultation. 

This consultation will remain open for a period of two weeks, from Saturday 08 November 2025 until 23.59hrs Saturday 29 November 2025 

• Click the purple 'Make a Submission' button on the right of this page to write your submission. We are interested in any comments or suggestions you may have.

Or

• You can make a submission by post. Please mark your submission clearly with Safe Routes to School, St Helens SNS Limetree Avenue, Portmarnock and send it to the following address:

Senior Executive Engineer, c/o Active Travel Unit,  Climate Action, Active Travel and Sports Department,

Fingal County Council,

Grove Road,

Blanchardstown, 

D15 W638

Submissions can be made by individuals or groups such as businesses or residents associations. Please make your submission by one means only.