'Accident waiting to happen' – Kilkenny residents raise alarm over student parking in housing estate

Residents in a Kilkenny City housing estate have spoken out over the continued unauthorised parking of students’ vehicles in local neighbourhoods.

Last month, councillors in the Kilkenny City Municipal District raised concerns about the impact of student parking on residents living in housing estates on the Tullaroan Road and its environs.

In response, Kilkenny County Council confirmed it's exploring a potential drop-off and collection point for those attending the nearby CBC at Dicksboro GAA Club. However, no formal agreement has been reached at this time.

Several residents of the Fox Meadow estate have since contacted the Kilkenny People to voice their concerns about the ongoing situation.

The issue comes amid increased school traffic in the area following the relocation of Christian Brothers College to Dunningstown Road in August 2025, which has resulted in more students travelling along and parking in the vicinity of Tullaroan Road on a daily basis.

"There have been ongoing problems with students parking in the estate for the day and parents using the estate as a drop-off/collection point since the opening of the new CBC,” one male resident said.

“The Fox Meadow Residents Association has been very helpful and proactive in trying to deal with the issue. To date, they have put up signs, liaised with builders, submitted letters to the council, and engaged with the board of management at the CBC to try and resolve the issue,” they added.

Said resident also claimed their car was hit by a student while they were parking their car in the last week.

"Hitting a parked car is one thing, but it could just as easily have been a child,” this resident continued.

Residents have also highlighted the demand for parking within the estate, noting that bays designated for guests and visitors are regularly used by unauthorised vehicles. They also pointed to the presence of several houses accommodating people with additional needs, which require parking for staff and vehicles associated with the properties. In some instances, up to three staff cars may need to use a parking bay during the day.

Speaking at the meeting of city-based councillors last month, Cllr David FitzGerald, said something needed to be done.

“It’s unfair on residents, and it’s creating unnecessary tension in the community,” Cllr FitzGerald said.

That alleged tension was referred to by another resident of the estate.

“It is very frustrating as there should be parking facilities available for the students given the size and money that was put into the school,” one female resident commented.

“There have been instances of anti-social behaviour from some of the drivers for example one resident observed a student hanging out of a window while the driver was moving and beeping the horn,” she claimed.

“There have been verbal disagreements between residents and the students parking, which has escalated over time. Students have shown a lack of respect for residents; one such car was parked half up on the grass when he couldn't get properly into a parking space.

"We are urging the council to help the residents with a solution,” she added, stating, “given the amount of children and the speed of these youths driving around the estate it is another accident waiting to happen.”

Meanwhile, one parent argued that safety is the single biggest worry.

“The estate is a new estate with a lot of young families in it. I'd say the majority are young families, with kids heading to school. I've experienced two near misses involving student drivers where they've come around corners and haven't been looking where they're going. We've all been young drivers,” they explained.

“It is an escalating problem, and it's a problem that's happening before our eyes. It needs to have some plan put around it because it's not going to get better by just acknowledging we have a traffic problem and then doing nothing about it.”

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