News

Presentation of Proposals to Dublin Bay Taskforce

We have uploaded a presentation , which was made by Tom Leahy of Dublin City Council at the Dublin Bay Taskforce in November 2008. While some elements of the proposals have changed in the intervening period, particularly in the inner city area, a lot of what is shown is still relevant. It provides a very good overview of the route and the issues that arise. It shows some details of the proposed section at the Bull Island in the North Bay which was recently approved by An Bord Pleanala.
The presentation includes references to coastal protection, which is a completely separate exercise by the Local Authorities. Given that both objectives will happen in the same strip of seafront however, it makes sense to incorporate the S2S into whatever is agreed as a solution to the requirements for coastal defence..
Dublin City Council is to be commended for its positive attitude to the project as displayed in this presentation and in the success in securing an approval from An Bord Pleanala for the section at the Bull Island. If only this enthusiasm can be extended to other authorities,,,,,,,,,

Section of S2S Appoved- December 2011

In a very welcome decision, An Bord Pleanala has approved the proposals to construct the only remaining missing section of the S2S project in north Dublin Bay in an order made on the 22nd December2011. The section, which is in Dollymount, opposite St Anne’s Park, runs from the Wooden Bridge to the Causeway and is approximately 2kms long. The approval is very important because the completion of this section will allow a continuous 9Kms of traffic-free promenade and cycleway all the way from Sutton to Alfie Byrne Road. This is almost half the entire route around Dublin Bay and leaves only about 6 kms to the completed on the south side of the city.
The National Parks and Wildlife section of the Department of Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht objected to the proposal on grounds of alleged loss of habitat and disturbance to birds, but, having weighed up all the evidence, the Board did not sustain those objections. While everyone accepts that there is unlikely to be money available to carry out the construction in the immediate future, the approval is still of critical importance as it will enable work to be commenced if and when the money does become available or the cost of the proposals are reduced.

Great announcement by new Lord Mayor of Dublin Andrew Montague- June 2011

In his inaugural address following his election on Monday 27th June 2011, the new Dublin City Mayor Councillor Andrew Montague said "The Sutton to Sandycove cycling route along our seafront, often called the S2S route, has been launched and re-launched many times. I will assemble a team and agree a plan to fill in the few remaining gaps on this route, to finish the job once and for all."
This the best news we have had for a long time and it is most welcome after many recent disappointments. We are calling on all those who support the project to let everyone know through Facebook and also by mailing messages of encouragement to the office of the Lord Mayor at his web site

The full press release and text of the Lord Mayors inaugural address can be seen here

Setback for S2S Project - March 2011

About three years ago, another feasibility study (one had already been completed by the Dublin Regional Authority) was commissioned jointly by Dublin City Council and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Co Council with the support of the Department of Environment. 
The study and report was completed by Scott Wilson, Engineers early in 2010 but has not been published. No reasons were given. Following a motion put down by Councillors Barry Ward and Stephen Fitzpatrick at DLRCC's Council meeting in February, some light has now been cast on the matter. A web-cast of the council meeting can be found at the following link.Council Meeting

(The web-cast is nearly 3 hours long so fast-forward to 02-06-30, which is the start of the relevant debate) It is difficult not to be frustrated that a project with such widespread support continues to be blocked!

New Link from Clontarf to Eastpoint June 2010

Architect David Wright has put forward an imaginative scheme to form a more direct north south link from the Seafront at Clontarf to the Eastwall Road. The idea is to construct a pedestrian/cycle bridge across the inner estuary from Clontarf seafront to Easpoint. This would reduce the distance from the seafront to The East Link Bridge by 1.6 Km. It is probably the shortest possible route between the north and south city and has the advantage of maintaining more of the overall route along the seafront. 

A map and more details of the proposal can be found on David Wright's website http://www.davidwright.ie/s2s.html

Dublin City Council Submits Environmental Impact Study

Dublin City Council have applied to An Bord Pleanala for approval for an Environmental Impact Study for a vital section of the project at Dollymount. The section, which is less than 2 kms long, will joint two existing sections of promenade and cycleway between the Wooden bridge and the Causeway at the Bull Island Estuary. 
Full details of the study can be found on the DCC website at http://www.dublincity.ie/WaterWasteEnvironment/Pages/WaterWasteandEnvironment.aspx. Members of the public can submit observations on the proposal to An Bord Pleanala within six weeks of the 29th June 09. It is to be hoped that those who support the project will take the opportunity to do so by writing to An Bord Pleanala.

Ministers Dempsey launches Ireland's First National Cycle Policy Framework 20th April 2009

The Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey, T.D. has done it again and given a further significant boost to the project in his announcement of the new national cycle policy framework. The full policy can be accessed here: http://www.transport.ie/upload/general/11387-0.pdf

The relevant section states:
2.10 Sutton to Sandycove Scheme -
We will complete the Sutton to Sandycove (S2S) cycleway /promenade. This 22km continuous facility will act as a commuting route as well as a world class recreational and tourist route. It will be a flagship project for the capital.

Dublin City Council Officials Present Plan to Councillors 4th Feb 2009

On Wednesday 4th February 2009, Dublin City Council officials presented their plans for the S2S route to a meeting of the City Councillors. Follow this link to see a report of the proposals that was published in the Irish Times of 13th February 2009.

Ministers announce sustainable transport plan - 5th February 2009

The Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey, T.D., accompanied by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Mr Eamon Ryan, T.D. today launched "Smarter Travel – A Sustainable Transport Future". This is Government's action plan to free our towns and cities from choking traffic congestion, slash CO2 emissions and help car based commuters to leave their cars at home.

Smarter Travel – A Sustainable Transport Future sets out measures so that by 2020 we can have thousands more people walking, cycling, using public transport and leaving their cars at home. With this action plan Government aims to change the transport mix in Ireland so that by 2020 car share of total commutes drop from the current 65% to 45%. This will involve new ways of approaching many aspects of policy making in Ireland. It affects how we plan our schools and school curricula, influences where we develop residential areas and centres of employment in the future, opens up social and employment opportunities for people who experience reduced mobility and returns urban spaces to people rather than cars. the Government's commitment to the S2S project is reconfirmed in Action 15: 

"Recently the Government has announced a benefit-in-kind tax incentive to encourage cycle commuting as well as investment in cycle route maintenance and the proposed Sutton to Sandycove cycle route. The Government have also carried out research on best practice for cycling and has published a strategy for developing cycle tourism."

The full text of "Smarter Travel" can be found at the following link www.transport.ie/upload/general/Smarter_Travel_5_feb_2009.pdf

Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey, T.D. and Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Mr Eamon Ryan, TD.

Presentation of S2S Plans: Dublin Bay Task Force November 2008

On the 22nd November 2008, Tom Leahy, Executive Manager (Engineering) Dublin City Council, made a presentation of the latest plans for the S2S project to a meeting of the Dublin Bay Task Force. The presentation gives a first glimpse of the ideas for the S2S North section based on the proposals prepared by Roughan and O'Donovan, Engineers. It contains some very exciting ideas which would provide a world class promenade and cycleway while at the same time protecting the sensitive environment. The full presentation can be seen at the following link: http://www.dra.ie/documents/T_Leahy_Sutton2Sandycove22Nov.pdf

Please note that this document is approximately 3Mb and may take a few minutes to download. It is worth it!

Progress 2007-2008

Following the announcement of Government support for the S2S Project in late 2006, the then Minister for the Environment, Dick Roche TD. formed a working group with representatives of the Department of the Environment, Dublin City and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, the Dublin Docklands Development Authority and the Dublin Transportation Office. Acting through Dublin City Council and DunLaoghaire Rathdown County Council, the working group arranged for more detailed studies to be undertaken of the Project. For more details follow this link.

Great public reaction to Government Announcement!

The S2S e-mail has had copies of lots of messages welcoming the announcement by the Taoiseach and the Minister for the Environment , Heritage and Local Government, of Government support for the S2S project, including this message to the Taoiseach and the Minister from Eric Conroy, Hon. Treasurer, An Taisce (and ardent cyclist!):
"I am very pleased that the government has agreed to support the cycling route around Dublin Bay. It is a very exciting venture and should be a great environmentally-friendly amenity for the people of Dublin and beyond. Well done,"
The text of many of the messages of support for the project can be checked at the support page.

Government Support for S2S Project Announced November 2006

A new milestone in the campaign was reached today (12th Nov) when the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern T.D. and the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Mr. Dick Roche T.D. announced their commitment to promote and support the proposal to upgrade and join up various existing sections of promenade and cycleways to form a continuous route around the 22kms seafront of Dublin Bay.
The announcement was made in a press briefing and photo call on the seafront at Clontarf. This is seen as a huge boost to the campaign and follows meetings between members of the group and the Taoiseach and the Minister. A full copy of the press release can be found here.

June-2006: Proposals invited for feasibility study.

We are delighted to learn that Dublin City Council has invited proposals for the feasibility study and environmental assessment for a section of the project. This is the first such decision by a Local Authority in relation to the promenade and cycleway and is hugely significant. The full text of the advertisement can be seen here . The following is an abstract from the public notice:

"The proposed promenade and cycleway is located on the seaward side of James Larkin Road between the North Bull Island Causeway and the Wooden Bridge at Dollymount, North Dublin. The proposed width is 8 metres and the project extent is approximately 2 kilometres. The scope of the services required include a Feasibility Study and, if the scheme is found to be feasible, a Preliminary Design is to be carried out. The scope of the Feasibility Study will involve a detailed examination of existing data, selection of feasible options after detailed environmental and statutory aspects have been assessed and the determination of cost estimates for these feasible options."

May 2006 Consultants Report Published

On 16th May 2006 the Dublin Regional Authority adopted the WSP report on the S2S project. The entire 22kms has been studied and the environmental and other issues have been identified. A preferred route and alternatives have been proposed and a preliminary estimate has been made of the cost of completing the first phase of the project. This phase is to complete those sections of the route where no promenade or cycleway now exist. At the same meeting of the authority, the Members, who are drawn from the elected Councillors of the 4 Dublin authorities, voted to get each of its members to include the S2S project in its political party's manifesto. The completion of the report and its adoption by the authorities now opens up the way for the project to proceed to the next stage, which includes detailed design and full environmental impact studies. The process will also involve discussions with the stakeholders, including local communities and residents living near the route. It is estimated that the entire of Phase 1 could be completed in less than 4 years, if it is started immediately.
The full report can be obtained from the Dublin Regional Authority and will be available on their website very soon.

April 2006 Website active again!

We regret that due to technical difficulties and a lack of resources (it happens in all voluntary groups from time to time) -this site has not been updated for some time. We are pleased to announce that we have solved the problems and that the site will be updated regularly from now on. The many supporters will be pleased to know that activity in support of the project has continued and that significant progress has been made. We would hope to be able to report on that in the near future.

More Support from Irish Heart Foundation

The following is the text of an e-mail we received from Brian Maurer, Medical Director, Irish Heart Foundation :
"Warmly support this initiative of which I have only just learned. Can we be of help in progressing the work. With increasing energy costs there will be no better time to start lobbying vigorously."
Brian Maurer 12th September 2005

Public Support for the project.

Support for the project continues to grow. In a letter to Dublin City Council advocating support, Clara Clarke has encapsulated much of what we would hope for the proposal. To quote from her submission:

"As a regular cyclist and walker, I can see the huge merits of this project, which will reclaim the coastline and access to the sea, beaches, and fresh air, safe and removed from cars, lorries and roads. The S2S route, once established, will be used by commuters, families, staff during lunch and break times, as well as exercisers. It will finally encourage people out of cars, even off buses, to avail of the pleasant, SAFER, and environmentally friendlier route to and from their places of work, and as a mode of transport. It will allow students and school-children a quicker, healthier, more fun way of getting to/from school/college."

The full text of Clara's mail can be read in the Support section.

March-2004 DRA Appoints Consultants

Another milestone has been reached in the campaign to promote the Sandycove to Sutton Cycleway and Promenade. On Friday 27th February, 2004, ffollowing interviews of a short list of consultants, the Dublin Regional Authority has accepted the recommendation of the interview board and appointed a consortium to undertake the design and environmental study of the proposal. The Consortium is lead by WSP and included AWN Consulting, Ryan Hanley and Tiros Resources. The consortium will start work immediately and is expected to complete the project by next summer. The importance of this study lies in the fact that it will look at the entire route as a single entity. All of the Local Authorities along with the Department of Transport, the Dublin Docklands Development Authority and the Dublin Transportation Office are supporting the study.

Feb-2004: S2S included in Dublin City Plan

Dublin City Council is the latest local authority to include the S2S proposal in its new draft development plan. The Draft Dublin City Development Plan 2005-2011 will be on public display for a period of 10 weeks, from Monday 2nd February, 2004 to Thursday, 15th April, 2004 (excluding public holidays). The full text of the plan together with dates and venues at which the plan can be viewed, can be found under Services-Planning at Dublin City Council web-site. This is another great boost for the campaign. We ask all supporters of the S2S project to write to Dublin City Council expressing their support for the proposal. Written submissions or observations, marked "Draft Development Plan" should be submitted to the Executive Manager, Planning Department, Dublin City Council, Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8.

Tenders Submitted for Design and Environmental Study

The Dublin Regional Authority has received 14 proposals from groups comprised of leading professionals in the environmental, engineering, architectural and planning fields for the design and environmental study on the S2S proposal. A short list has been prepared and interviews of the short-listed candidates will be held in mid-February. It is expected that an appointment will be made very shortly thereafter and that the study will be underway by March 2004.

November 14th 2003 Tenders invited for S2S Design and Environmental Report!

In what can only be seen as a major milestone for the S2S campaign, the Dublin Regional Authority, on behalf of Dublin City Council, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Fingal County Council, Dublin Docklands Development Authority and the Dublin Transportation Office, have advertised in Irish and EU journals for consultants to carry out a Preliminary Design Study and Environmental Report for the provision of a promenade and cycleway from Sutton to Sandycove. The move has also been supported by the Minister of Transport, Seamus Brennan TD, who has committed €50,000 towards the cost of the study. The remainder will be funded by the participating bodies. The expectation is that tenders will be submitted early in December and that consultants will be appointed immediately thereafter. Read the full text of the advertisement here.

DLRCC Development Plan Progress

Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council received over 2500 submissions on the draft development plan from members of the public. There was strong support in several submissions for the S2S promenade and cycleway. The Councillors will debate the plan over several meetings in November and December 2003. Neither the Manager or any of the Councillors have proposed any alteration to the S2S proposal as set out in the draft development plan and it is expected to be approved.

Dublin Bay Cycle Event

THE DUBLIN BAY FUN CYCLE (Sun 21 Sep 03) FROM HOWTH VILLAGE TO BLACKROCK PARK AND BACK. BRING YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS AND ANYONE YOU KNOW WHO CAN RIDE A BIKE!

The fun cycle is organised by the Diabetes Federation of Ireland. It has the theme 'Life is Better Under Seven' because it aims to raise awareness among the 200,000 Irish people with diabetes of a vital long-term blood sugar reading known as A1c.

For further information on how to participate please contact the Diabetes Federation of Ireland on 
1850 909 909 or log onto www.diabetes.ie

Martello Tower at Seapoint

The Genealogical Society of Ireland is restoring and refurbishing the beautiful Martello Tower at Seapoint as a permanent base for their archives. In an e-mail message to S2S, which we have posted in the support page, Secretary Michael Merrigan reports that they expect to open the centre in 2004 in this landmark building. This very welcome enterprise will be perhaps the first of a series of new attractions along the S2S route. For more information, visit the web site of theGenealogical Society of Ireland

Letter from EU Commissioner June 27th

David Byrne has, in a private capacity, been a strong supporter of the S2S campaign since it started. In a letter to the group dated 27th June 2003 as EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, he expresses his support for the proposal. " Not only is this exciting because of the pleasure it will provide to so many people but it will also greatly contribute to the improvement of public health." Read the full text of the letter in PDF format.

S2S Submission to Council June 23rd 2003

S2S has made a submission to Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council in relation to their Draft Development Plan 2004-2010. See the full text of the letter.

IRHA Endorses S2S Proposal

Arising out of a discussion on NewsTalk 106, S2S has received an e-mail of support from Jimmy Quinn of the IRHA.
To read the full text of this and other e-mails check the support page.

DLRCC Development Plan 2004-2010

Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council have just published for public comment their Draft Development Plan 2004-2010 and they have included a coastal walk and cycleway from Booterstown to Sandycove, with the intention to continue it south along the coast to the County boundary at Bray.
This is indeed very good news and we congratulate DLRCC on their decision. Read the detailed extract from the Draft Development Plan here. You will find the full draft development plan on the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council website here.
It would be very good for the campaign if the Council were to be made aware of the widespread support that exists for the coastal promenade and cycleway. People who wish to express their support for the proposal are encouraged to do so by either writing or e-mailing the Council at devplan@dlrcoco.ie. The standard form for making a written submission can be found at the Council's website here. Note: Submissions to the Council must be submitted before July 1st 2003.

Support from Sustrans

the internationally recognised organisation promoting sustainable transport solutions has strongly endorsed the S2S proposal. In a letter to the campaign dated 8th May 2003, they state: "We very much hope that this stunning coastal promenade and associated landscaping will provide a section of the long distance cross border cycle route and a section of the all Ireland Cycle Network. It is likely that it will be the most used cycle route in all of Ireland". To see the full text of the letter click here.

Irish Heart Foundation Welcomes Initiative

The Slí na Sláinte campaign, run by the Irish Heart Foundation, has expressed strong support for the campaign. In a letter to S2S dated 8th August 2002, chairman Paddy Murphy describes the proposal as an innovative and simple idea that would compliment and enhance their plans for public walkway facilities in Dublin.
The campaign is aimed at improving public health by encouraging people to take more exercise by walking regularly. To see the full text of the letter click here

S2S publishes feedback from Supporters

Please click here to view a selection of the comments received from people who have expressed their support for the proposal by mailing us at the following address: