Finglas Village Improvement Scheme

This scheme looks to improve the pedestrian, cycling and public transport infrastructure in Finglas Village.

The cycling facilities along Seamus Ennis Road will also form part of a more strategic orbital cycling route between Finglas and Killester, which forms part of Dublin City Council’s Active Travel Network.

The area is currently dominated by car traffic and generally unfriendly to users of sustainable transport. This scheme will improve safety and access for all road users and, in particular, to St. Canice’s Girls and Boys National School.

The changes to the bus network as part of BusConnects have resulted in additional bus services along Seamus Ennis Road. Additional services are proposed along McKee Avenue in the future. These buses pass through the ‘5-arm’ junction and will be accommodated as part of this improvement scheme.

The National Transport Authority’s Greater Dublin Area Cycle Network Plan identifies Seamus Ennis Road as a ‘primary orbital’ section of the network with the McKee Avenue, Jamestown Road (south) and Finglas Road (R135) forming a ‘primary radial’ route.

A public consultation on the Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy 2022-2042 was held between November 2020 and January 2021.

The Finglas Village Improvement Scheme will:

• Enhance the physical, social and economic regeneration of the northwest area of the city.
• Revitalise the area for those who live, work and visit the village.
• Create a destination with a vibrant street life for people to visit and linger in, thus providing social, cultural and economic benefits.
• Create an accessible and inclusive street environment for all, and encourage social interaction for people of all age groups and abilities.
• Promote Active Travel through the village to reduce traffic congestion, carbon emissions, pollution and noise. This will provide health and wellbeing benefits for those who live and work in the village.
• Maximise priority for pedestrians and cyclists while significantly improving safety and accessibility for all road users within Finglas.
• Make using public transport more attractive to the public.
• Improve access to and from the proposed new Luas Finglas stop, west of the Village, while also catering for an anticipated increase in the local population as a result of the rezoning of lands at the Jamestown Strategic Development Regeneration Area north of Finglas Village.
• Enhance biodiversity in the area through the use of mixed variety of tree species, and create habitats and microclimates for native flora and fauna.

A non-statutory public consultation process was carried out between February and March 2024. Based on the feedback received, the scheme's design was reviewed and a report summarising the consultation results was created.

It is anticipated that this scheme will be implemented under Section 38 of the Road Traffic Act. 

Environmental Impact Assessment and Appropriate Assessment Screening Reports were completed and a final decision on the proposed planning route will be made by Dublin City Council Planners.

The Finglas Village Improvement Scheme will enhance the physical, social and economic regeneration of the area. It intends to revitalise the area for those who live, work and visit the village. The design will create a destination with vibrant street life for people to visit and linger in. This will support the vibrancy of the village and may encourage further economic activity and investment in the area.

The design of the Finglas Village Improvement Scheme is guided by the principles of Universal Design. The design aims to create an accessible and inclusive street environment for all. It encourages social interaction for all age groups and abilities.

The Finglas Village Improvement Scheme is also designed with regard to the Dublin City Climate Action Plan to mitigate climate change and minimise environmental impacts during construction and use. Streetscapes are designed to promote Active Travel, reducing carbon emissions, pollution and noise. Materials with low environmental cost are to be specified. Nature‐based Sustainable Urban Drainage systems will be installed to manage surface‐water, including naturally drained tree‐pits and rainwater gardens.

A mixed variety of tree species will be planted to ensure biodiversity and to create habitats and microclimates for native flora and fauna.

As a result of the proposed scheme, Jamestown Road (south) will be restricted to local access only. It will change from one-way to two-way, but there will no longer be a direct link to Seamus Ennis Road junction. Vehicles exiting the Finglas Village Centre and other local accesses along Jamestown Road (south) will need to route towards Main Street. 

Vehicles which currently use Jamestown Road (south) as a ‘through route’ will need to use an alternative route, depending on their origin and destination. Alternative routes include:

• Continuing along the R135 and using the Seamus Ennis Road and Mellowes Road interchange.
• Using Ballygall Road West and Glasanaon Road.
• Using Main Street.

As there will no longer be a traffic signal phase for movements from Jamestown Road (south), the junction of Seamus Ennis Road / McKee Avenue /Jamestown Road (north) will operate more efficiently for all users.

By removing the vehicular connection to the ‘5-arm’ junction, several benefits are realised, including:

• One less traffic signal phase at the Seamus Ennis Road / McKee Avenue /Jamestown Road (north) junction, making it more efficient for all users.
• An opportunity to have a high quality public realm area, which acts as the northern gateway to the village and improves the visual amenity of the area.
• The accommodation of two-way cycle movements along Jamestown Road (south) and a quicker connection the R135.
• Improved pedestrian access to schools and public transport, because there will be no need to cross this road or wait for traffic on the southern side of the ‘5-arm’ junction.

This option has the least impact on traffic and local residents of the choices considered.

There is good provision of off-street car parking in Finglas Village with over 170 off-street car parking spaces. Approximately, 18 car parking spaces will be removed to accommodate this proposed scheme, including:

• Nine on-street spaces along the northside of Seamus Ennis Road (to the west of the ‘5-arm’ junction).
• Two on-street spaces along the northside of Seamus Ennis Road (to the east of the ‘5-arm’ junction).
• Seven spaces in the Drogheda Mall carpark.

To offset the removal of two accessible parking spaces on the northside of Seamus Ennis Road (to the west of the ‘5-arm’ junction), it is proposed to provide two additional accessible spaces within the Drogheda Mall car park. The number of existing on-street accessible parking spaces to the east of the ‘5-arm’ junction will be maintained as part of the scheme.

Access to existing car parks will be retained, with improved pedestrian crossings making it quicker and safer to cross busy junctions.

Yes, additional on-street bike parking will be provided, including the replacement of any that need to be removed. The exact locations will be determined during the Detailed Design stage.

This scheme will minimise the loss of trees where possible, especially mature trees.

The removal of trees located on the footpath outside Super Valu on the northern side of Seamus Ennis Road is proposed. The majority of the trees in this location are not thriving. In addition, a small number of young trees are likely to be removed along the northern side of Seamus Ennis Road (east of the ‘5-arm’ junction).

Our objective is to replant two trees for every tree removed. Any removed trees will be replaced with semi-mature native species, in accordance with Dublin City Council's tree strategy and biodiversity plan.

New tree planting will be in predesigned tree pits, which protect footpaths from tree root disruption and ensure the trees will thrive. An Arboricultural Assessment Report, which includes a tree survey and a tree protection plan, was prepared and is included in the public consultation report.

Yes. The following screening assessments have been completed:

• Environmental Impact Assessment Screening.
• Appropriate Assessment Screening.

Both screening reports concluded that an Environmental Impact Assessment Report and Appropriate Assessment Report are not required for the scheme.

The scheme has been designed with other planned schemes in mind to ensure there are no conflicts between proposals. Notable adjacent projects, include Finglas Luas and BusConnects Dublin. Works will also be coordinated with the Finglas to Killester Active Travel Scheme.